One of the symptoms of diphtheria
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said about 68 per cent of confirmed diphtheria cases in the country involve people who were not vaccinated.
Speaking with Channels Television on Saturday, Principal Health Communication Officer, Michael Okali, said another 28 per cent of confirmed cases involved people who were unsure of their vaccination status.
He added that most of the deaths recorded from the disease were among unvaccinated persons and warned that everyone remains at risk of infection.
Okali explained that people who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to contract the disease and spread it to others.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure that eligible children receive the free vaccines available at primary healthcare centres across the country.
According to him, prompt reporting of suspected cases is also important in preventing further transmission.
“That is why we advocated for full vaccination. 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 — it contains both the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines. This can be used to boost the immunity of the individual,” he said.
Okali disclosed that Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara account for 98 per cent of the confirmed diphtheria cases in Nigeria.
He further revealed that between August 24 and August 30, 2026, the country recorded 69 suspected cases, 48 confirmed infections and four deaths linked to the disease.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection spread mainly through respiratory droplets or contact with infected sores, and its symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and difficulty breathing.
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