Katsina State Tackles Diphtheria Outbreak Amid Challenges

The Katsina State Government, led by Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has identified the porous border with Niger Republic as a significant challenge in containing a diphtheria outbreak affecting 29 local government areas. The government reported that from August 25, 2026, to September 12, 2026, it vaccinated 150,346 individuals in a reactive campaign targeting high-risk wards in Bakori, Charanchi, Funtua, Mashi, and Kankia.

By the fifth day, 99,036 eligible persons received the Td vaccine, and 51,310 children were vaccinated with the Pentavalent vaccine. The outbreak has seen Funtua with the highest number of cases.

To enhance response efforts, traditional leaders are being mobilized, and the state has activated its emergency response structure, collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Three additional isolation centers have been established, and 650,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines have been secured to protect vulnerable populations.