KANO SEEKS NINE MILLION VACCINE DOSES AS DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK WORSENS

The Kano State Government has called for the immediate supply of about nine million doses of diphtheria vaccines as health authorities intensify efforts to contain an outbreak of the disease in parts of the state.

The request follows reports of diphtheria cases in communities within Rano Local Government Area, where some residents, including children, have reportedly died from the disease. The Kano State Centre for Disease Control said the large vaccine requirement was necessary to prevent further transmission and protect vulnerable residents.

In response to the outbreak, the state government has established a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response to coordinate the emergency measures being taken to control the disease.

The committee, chaired by Abbas, is expected to assess the scale of the outbreak, coordinate intervention efforts and implement measures aimed at preventing the disease from spreading to neighbouring local government areas.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause serious complications, particularly among children who have not been adequately vaccinated.

Health authorities have therefore continued to emphasise the importance of routine immunisation as one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of the disease.

The development in Kano comes alongside a worrying situation in neighbouring Niger State, where health authorities have reported deaths linked to another diphtheria outbreak.

According to the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, 124 cases had been confirmed in the state, while 84 patients had been treated and discharged. The disease has been recorded in Bida and Agaie, with surveillance subsequently increased in Suleja.

The agency's Executive Director, Dr Junaidu Inuwa, attributed part of the high casualty rate to low vaccination coverage, particularly among children whose parents or guardians had failed to immunise them.

He stressed that parents and guardians have an important role to play in preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases by ensuring that children receive the required immunisations.

The outbreak has consequently renewed concerns about vaccination gaps in communities where access to healthcare may be limited or where misinformation and other factors discourage parents from taking their children for routine immunisation.

Nigeria has continued to battle a significant burden of diphtheria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recently reported that more than 10,000 confirmed cases of the disease had been recorded across the country in 2026.

The national health agency has similarly stressed the need to improve vaccination coverage, particularly among children who have either not received their vaccines or have incomplete vaccination schedules.

For Kano, the immediate priority remains securing sufficient vaccine supplies and ensuring that affected communities are reached quickly.

Health officials are expected to continue surveillance, case detection and treatment while vaccination campaigns are intensified to prevent further infections.

The situation in Kano and Niger highlights the importance of sustained immunisation programmes, early detection and prompt medical intervention in controlling outbreaks of preventable diseases.

Authorities have urged parents and guardians to cooperate with health workers and ensure that eligible children receive their routine vaccines as efforts continue to contain the spread of diphtheria.