Kano Health Officials Respond to Diphtheria Outbreak

A diphtheria outbreak has been detected among students at a boarding school in Kano, which has over 2,000 students. A staff member reported that the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) responded on Thursday after the outbreak was reported.

One student with severe symptoms has been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kano, while others are being treated at the school. Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, the Director-General of KNCDC, confirmed that the agency received the report on Wednesday and deployed a team to investigate and contain the outbreak.

They tested 313 suspected cases, confirming 12 clinically. The agency administered medication to all suspected contacts and educated students about the disease.

Abbas expressed concern about inadequate vaccine supply, stating that a mass vaccination campaign is necessary for the school. He noted that the agency had requested nine million vaccine doses but only received 500,000, highlighting the need for greater vaccine availability amid rising diphtheria cases in Kano.