Kano investigates reported diphtheria deaths of 50 children

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has started investigating the reported deaths of more than 50 children in Rano Local Government Area over suspected diphtheria infections.

The KNCDC Director-General, Professor Muhammad Abbas, disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference at the centre’s headquarters in Kano.

The investigation followed concerns raised by the Kano State House of Assembly over the reported deaths.

Abbas said the state had officially recorded 32 diphtheria cases in Kano this year. Of the total, 25 were recorded in August, six in July and one in May.

“Seven of the 32 patients were admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, the designated isolation and treatment centre for diphtheria cases in Kano,” he said.

According to him, an active case search carried out on 19 August, after four cases were reported on 13 August, identified 10 additional cases and two deaths.

The Director-General explained that the difference between the 32 officially recorded cases and the reported deaths of more than 50 children could be linked to late reporting.

He said some patients were treated at home or by traditional healers instead of seeking care at health facilities.

Abbas said the KNCDC was conducting verbal autopsies by speaking with relatives of some of the deceased. The exercise is aimed at determining the actual cause of death and whether diphtheria was responsible or whether other illnesses were involved.

He urged parents and caregivers to take children showing possible symptoms of diphtheria to health facilities without delay, warning that late treatment could result in serious complications or death.

Abbas also revealed that Kano had recorded more than 38,000 suspected diphtheria cases since the outbreak started in 2022, with over 31,000 later confirmed.

He said more than 55 per cent of the confirmed cases were among children who had never received any vaccination, while about 16 per cent were only partially immunised.

The KNCDC chief stressed the need for stronger vaccination efforts across the state to protect children and prevent further deaths.

He commended the Kano State Government and the State House of Assembly for their support and urged residents to promptly report suspected cases of infectious diseases to primary, secondary or tertiary health facilities.