More than 50 children have died in a diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria’s northwestern Kano state, prompting calls for urgent government intervention to contain the spread of the disease.
State lawmaker Ibrahim Malami, who represents Rano Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, raised the issue on Tuesday, saying communities in Rano Local Government Area had been severely affected.
Malami said the outbreak was particularly serious in Rurum Ward, including Rurum A, Rurum B and Sabuwar Kaura, where local health authorities had begun emergency measures.
“We want to inform the Governor and the Commissioner for Health to send further emergency aid to the region because the disease has spread heavily in that area,” Malami said.
He called on Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and state health authorities to urgently deploy additional medical personnel, medicines and other assistance to affected communities.
Another lawmaker, Usman Abubakar Tasiu, warned that infections had also been reported in neighbouring Kiru Local Government Area, including the communities of Kwanar Dangora, Garin Dangora and Yelwa.
The Kano State House of Assembly subsequently adopted a resolution calling for immediate government intervention and directed its health committee to coordinate with the state Health Ministry on the emergency response.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe illness and death, particularly among unvaccinated children. Nigerian health authorities recommend that children receive three doses of the pentavalent vaccine at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age to protect against the disease.
Nigeria has experienced repeated diphtheria outbreaks in recent years, with Kano among the worst-affected states during a major nationwide outbreak in 2023.
The latest outbreak has renewed concerns over vaccination coverage, disease surveillance and access to timely medical treatment in affected communities.