Kano investigates reported diphtheria deaths of 50 children
KANO, Nigeria — The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) is investigating the deaths of over 50 children in Rano Local Government Area, amid concerns of suspected diphtheria infections.
At a news conference on Wednesday, KNCDC Director-General Professor Muhammad Abbas stated that the inquiry was initiated following alarming reports presented by the Kano State House of Assembly.
This year, Kano has officially recorded 32 cases of diphtheria, with 25 of those cases occurring in August, six in July, and one in May. Abbas noted that seven of the patients were admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital, the state’s designated center for treating diphtheria cases.
The investigation follows an active case search conducted on August 19, which identified 10 additional cases and two fatalities. Abbas explained that the discrepancy between the recorded cases and the number of reported deaths may be attributed to late reporting, as some patients sought treatment at home or from traditional healers instead of medical facilities.
To better understand the situation, the KNCDC is conducting verbal autopsies with relatives of the deceased to ascertain the precise causes of death and determine if diphtheria was a contributing factor.
Abbas urged parents and caregivers to seek medical attention for children exhibiting symptoms of diphtheria, emphasizing that delays could lead to severe complications or death. He also highlighted that since the diphtheria outbreak began in 2022, Kano has recorded more than 38,000 suspected cases, of which over 31,000 have been confirmed.
More than 55% of the confirmed cases involved children who had not received any vaccinations, while approximately 16% were only partially immunized. In light of these statistics, the KNCDC is advocating for enhanced vaccination efforts throughout the state to protect children and mitigate further fatalities.
Abbas appreciated the support from the Kano State Government and the State House of Assembly, stressing the importance of promptly reporting suspected infectious disease cases to health facilities at all levels.
