Kano State has recorded more than 32,000 confirmed cases of diphtheria since the outbreak began, with the disease affecting all 44 local government areas of the state.
The Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Muhammad Abbas, disclosed the figures while appearing on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Tuesday.
According to Abbas, the state has so far recorded 39,536 suspected cases, of which 32,633 have been confirmed.
“we have a total of 39,536 suspected cases, out of which we have confirmed cases of 32,633,” he said, adding that “it is affecting the 44 local government areas of the state.”
The KNCDC boss also revealed that the outbreak has claimed 1,744 lives, while a significant proportion of confirmed cases have required hospital care.
He said “the fatalities we have are 1,744,” while “14.5% of them” among the confirmed cases have been hospitalised.
Abbas identified mass vaccination as a key step towards containing the outbreak and protecting vulnerable communities.
He said “what Kano needs to do is mass vaccination,” while also urging residents to work with health authorities to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure suspected cases are reported early.
He explained that health officials have expanded their surveillance activities into rural communities, including conducting active searches for cases among people who had died.
“When we went deep into the villages and did what we call active case searches among the dead, another child met the definition of diphtheria,” he said.
The development highlights the importance of early detection and prompt reporting as Kano continues efforts to control the spread of diphtheria across the state.
