Kano Family Loses Five Children to Suspected Diphtheria

In Danbare New Layout, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, a family has tragically lost five children to an illness suspected to be diphtheria between October 1 and October 7, 2026. The deceased children, identified as Sadiq (13), Aisha (7), Zainab (7), Umar (6), and Aliyu (1 year and 6 months), died in two separate incidents, with two children passing on October 1 and three on October 7.

Their father, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, expressed deep sorrow and urged health authorities to investigate the deaths and determine the illness's cause. He also called for immediate measures to protect the surviving family members and the community from potential infection.

Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, the director-general of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KNCDC), stated that an investigation would be conducted to clarify the circumstances of the deaths and emphasized the importance of early detection and reporting of infectious diseases. As of the report's filing, health authorities had not confirmed diphtheria as the cause of death.