Over 7,200 cases and 453 fatalities reported

Save the Children International has reported a staggering 7,202 cases of diphtheria in Nigeria, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal without treatment. These cases have surged in recent months, primarily affecting children. According to a statement released on Friday, there have been 453 confirmed deaths since the outbreak began in May 2022, with the majority of cases occurring in the last three months. Kano, the second most populous state in Nigeria located in the north, accounted for the vast majority of confirmed cases, with 6,185 recorded cases.

Seventy-three point six percent (73.6%) of all confirmed cases, or three out of every four, are children under the age of 14, with the most affected age group being 5 to 14 years old.

Diphtheria is a preventable disease through vaccination and has been largely eradicated worldwide. However, periodic outbreaks occur in areas where significant numbers of children miss routine vaccination, such as the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even before the pandemic, Nigeria had one of the world's lowest vaccination rates. Efforts to improve routine immunization coverage and reduce mortality among children under five had limited success.

Presently, only 42% of children under 15 in Nigeria have full protection against diphtheria. In this recent outbreak, 80% of confirmed cases have been individuals who haven't received vaccinations.

Save the Children, in collaboration with local authorities, is initiating a comprehensive health response in the three hardest-hit states: Kano, Yobe, and Katsina.

The Emergency Health Unit of Save the Children is mobilizing skilled healthcare and supply chain personnel to assist overburdened clinics in diagnosing and treating diphtheria cases. They will also support mass vaccination campaigns in the most affected areas.

However, Save the Children emphasizes that the success of a mass vaccination campaign hinges on the urgent resolution of the vaccine shortage. Severe shortages of the required vaccine and antitoxin in Nigeria could lead to further escalation of the situation, putting many children at risk of severe illness and death, according to the child advocacy organization.

Faton Krasniqi, the Interim Country Director for Nigeria at Save the Children, stated:

"The entire humanitarian community is on high alert regarding this crisis. We are closely coordinating our efforts and collaborating with the Nigerian Ministry of Health to ensure that we reach all those in need of treatment and to contain the spread of the disease.

"Diphtheria can have a mortality rate of over 10%, but this risk can be even higher in places like overcrowded displacement camps or informal settlements within cities. In such areas, families often have limited access to healthcare services, and healthcare facilities may become overwhelmed.

"Addressing this outbreak necessitates an immediate infusion of funding and a substantial supply of vaccines. This is essential to contain the outbreak and save the lives of children."

Save the Children is appealing to donors to back the comprehensive response initiated by the government, UN agencies, and humanitarian organizations. This collective effort aims to strengthen local healthcare services, address the rising number of diphtheria cases, procure additional vaccines, and execute a large-scale vaccination campaign.

Save the Children has been actively engaged in Nigeria since 2001, delivering vital assistance, including food, clean water, nutrition, protection services, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and educational support to families across the nation. Additionally, the organization provides valuable technical support to the government, assisting with policy changes and reforms, particularly in crucial sectors like healthcare, education, and social protection, among others.

The Emergency Health Unit at Save the Children will collaborate closely with local healthcare professionals, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to identify and treat diphtheria cases. The unit will also undertake contact tracing and community education initiatives to help curb the spread of the disease.

The Emergency Health Unit remains prepared to assist in mass vaccination campaigns as soon as vaccine supplies are accessible. With a wealth of experience in responding to and managing disease outbreaks such as Ebola, cholera, COVID-19, and measles, the unit has been actively involved in various healthcare emergencies. Its most recent deployment in Nigeria was in 2022 to address a cholera outbreak.