The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that unvaccinated people account for 68 percent of confirmed diphtheria cases recorded in the country.
The NCDC’s Principal Health Communication Officer, Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Michael Okali, disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday.
Okali, who also heads the Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management Pillar of the National Diphtheria Incident Management System, said available data showed that 28 per cent of confirmed cases involved people whose vaccination status was unknown.
He said the figures highlighted the increased risk faced by unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, adding that most of the fatalities recorded were among those who had not been vaccinated.
According to him, everyone remains at risk of contracting diphtheria, while under-vaccinated persons could also contribute to its transmission.
Okali urged parents and guardians to ensure that eligible children receive their routine vaccinations, stressing that vaccination against diphtheria is free and available at primary healthcare centres nationwide.
He also called for early reporting of suspected cases to prevent further transmission.
“For infancy, six, 10, and 14; then if you are not sure of it, there is a booster vaccine called the Td or the Tdap,” he said, explaining that the vaccines help strengthen immunity against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Okali further disclosed that eight states account for 98 per cent of confirmed diphtheria cases in Nigeria.
The affected states, according to him, are Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.
He said that between August 24 and 30, 2026, Nigeria recorded 69 suspected cases, 48 confirmed cases and four deaths from diphtheria.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium, which produces a toxin that can affect the nose, throat, tonsils and larynx, as well as other major organs.
The disease can cause a greyish-white membrane at the back of the throat or nose and may lead to complications affecting the heart, nerves and kidneys.
Diphtheria is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from an infected person, particularly through coughing and sneezing. It can also spread through contact with infected wounds, contaminated clothing and other objects.
Common symptoms include mild fever, sore throat, swollen glands around the neck and difficulty breathing.
