By Nabilu Balarabe
The Yobe Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr Muhammad Gana, says the state has recorded 511 cases of diphtheria from January to September 8.
Gana told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Thursday that 13 deaths were recorded from the disease within the period under review.
According to Gana, the death figures represent a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.5 per cent, lower than most states affected by the disease in the country.
He said 12 local government areas of the state were affected by the disease outbreak, adding that plans had reached an advanced stage to conduct vaccination against the disease in the areas.
Gana, however, said the current 511 cases of diphtheria were significantly lower than the 1,100 cases recorded in September 2025 and preceding years.
He said the downward trend from 2023, when the state recorded its highest diphtheria burden of 3,080 cases, was due to sustained outbreak response activities.
The Commissioner listed the activities to include provision of free drugs to victims, training of health workers on response strategies, intensive vaccination in hard to reach areas, community engagements and sensitisation campaign against the disease.
Others were aggressive contact tracing by health workers, sharing updates with relevant stakeholders and conducting regular coordination meetings and resource mobilisation for outbreak response.
Gana commended the WHO, UNICEF and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) for supporting the state’s vaccination campaign against diphtheria , especially in nomadic settlements.
Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection which usually affects the throat and upper respiratory tract.
It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and sometimes through direct contact with infected skin lesions or contaminated secretions.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba