The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported on July 23 that a total of 1,506 suspected cases of diphtheria had been reported in 59 local government areas in 11 states across the country.
       Kano (1,055 cases), Yobe (232), Kaduna (85), Katsina (58) and Bauchi (47) states, as well as the FCT (18 cases), account for 99.3% of all suspected cases.
        Among the suspected cases, 579, or 38.5%, were confirmed. Among all confirmed cases, 39 deaths were reported (case fatality rate: 6.7%).
       From May 2022 to July 2023, the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 4,000 suspected and 1,534 confirmed cases of diphtheria.
       Of the 1,534 reported confirmed cases, 1,257 (81.9%) were not fully vaccinated against diphtheria.
        Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by a toxin-producing strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This toxin can make people very sick. Diphtheria bacteria are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets such as coughing or sneezing. People can also get sick from open sores or ulcers in people with diphtheria.
        When bacteria enters the respiratory system, it can cause a sore throat, mild fever, and swollen glands in the neck. The toxins produced by these bacteria can kill healthy tissue in the respiratory system, causing difficulty breathing and swallowing. If the toxin enters the bloodstream, it can also cause heart, nerve, and kidney problems. Skin infections caused by B. diphtheriae are usually superficial sores (sores) and do not cause serious illness.
        Respiratory diphtheria can cause death in some people. Even with treatment, about 1 in 10 people with respiratory diphtheria die. Without treatment, up to half of patients may die from the disease.
       If you have not been vaccinated against diphtheria or are not fully vaccinated against diphtheria and may have been exposed to diphtheria, it is important to begin treatment with antitoxins and antibiotics as soon as possible.
       Africa Anthrax Australia Avian Flu Brazil California Canada Chikungunya China Cholera Coronavirus COVID-19 Dengue Dengue Ebola Europe Florida Food Recall Hepatitis A Hong Kong Indian Flu Veterans Disease Lyme Disease Malaria Measles Monkeypox Mumps New York Nigeria Norovirus Outbreak Pakistan Parasite Philippines Plague Polio Rabies Salmonella Syphilis Texas Texas Vaccine Vietnam West Nile Virus Zika Virus