Following the diagnosis, Jubrin was immediately transferred
from the health facility near their home in Alharini settlement, in Kano State,
Nigeria, to a specialist hospital after he suddenly developed a high fever
following two days of complaining of a sore throat.
Cumulatively from 9 May 2022 to 25 October 2023, 15 569
suspected (9772 confirmed) diphtheria cases that have been reported across
Nigeria, 547 of whom have died. Confirmed cases have been recorded in 19
states, with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Yobe and Bauchi states
the worst affected.
Kano state, where Jubrin lives, bears the highest burden of
the disease, with 8022 confirmed cases. Diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable
bacterial infection, is highly contagious and can lead to severe respiratory
complications due to the formation of a greyish membrane in the throat. Without
treatment, it obstructs breathing and can result in death.
Those who receive prompt treatment, like Jubrin, make full
recovery. Following his recovery, Jubrin’s brother, a village head, is now
using the experience and position in the community to raise awareness and
educate people on the importance of childhood immunization against diseases
such as diphtheria.
“Interrupting transmission in Kano state is crucial to
reduce the risk of spread at the community level,” explains Dr Abubakar Labaran
Yusuf, Kano State Commissioner of Health.
WHO is working with partners to support the government at
national and subnational levels to strengthen the outbreak response. It has
disbursed US$ 1.3 million for the response to enhance key outbreak control
measures including disease surveillance, laboratory testing, contract tracing,
case investigation and treatment, training as well as collaborating with
communities to support the response efforts.
“WHO has been a valuable partner,” says Dr Yusuf.
With support from WHO and the United Nations Children’s
Fund, Kano state has carried out three phases of reactive routine immunization
campaigns in February, April and August 2023, using the combination
tetanus-diphtheria and pentavalent vaccines. All three doses are necessary for
full protection against diphtheria. WHO has also provided and helped the
country procure medicines to treat the disease.
Almost 75 000 zero-dose children under the age of two
received the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine, while around 670 000
eligible children (4‒14 years) were vaccinated with the tetanus-diphtheria
vaccine in 18 high-burden local government areas in Kano state.
The Organization is also providing technical expertise and
has developed guidelines and strategic documents for the federal government,
states and partners, to ensure effective coordination.
“WHO is committed to work with the Government of Nigeria and
partners to ensure that we respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner to this
concerning outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease,” says Dr Walter Kazadi
Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria. “We cannot stop until we have reached
all children who have not been vaccinated against diphtheria and continue
encouraging all parents to bring their children for routine childhood
immunizations.”
Safiya Mohammed, a mother of two in residing in Ungogo Local
Government Area, a hotspot for diphtheria in Kano state, ensured her children
were vaccinated.
“I had never heard of diphtheria,” Safiya says. “I don’t
want my children or those in the neighbourhood to fall sick or die from the
disease. To protect my children, I also need to make sure the children they
play with are protected.”