Kano State has been hit by a deadly outbreak of diphtheria infection, with 61 lives lost as of March 2, 2023.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and upper airways, causing difficulty in breathing, heart failure, and even death. The disease is highly contagious and spreads easily through coughing and sneezing.
The alarming figures were disclosed by the Kano State Case Manager, Dr Salma Suwaid, during a webinar organized by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with the theme ‘Diptheria outbreak in Nigeria: Vaccination Response.’
Speaking at the event, Dr Suwaid revealed that a total of 783 patients have been admitted to the hospital so far, with 360 females and 423 males. She emphasized the urgent need for vaccination response to halt the spread of the disease
