Diphtheria Cases Surge in Nigeria as Medical Academy Raises Alarm Over Low Vaccination

Academy of Medical Sciences has warned of continued diphtheria spread in Nigeria, citing low vaccination, overcrowding and low immunity.

In an advisory issued on September 17, 2026, the Academy said eight states accounted for 98 per cent of more than 10,000 confirmed cases recorded in the country in 2026. The affected states are Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The advisory, signed by the Academy’s President, Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, and the Chairman of its Rapid Response Committee, Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, was directed at the Federal and state governments, ministries of health, health institutions and the general public.

The Academy attributed the outbreak risk to pockets of low immunity, overcrowding, limited ventilation and close contact in households and communities. It warned that population movement could facilitate further transmission beyond the states currently accounting for most confirmed cases.

According to the Academy, the vast majority of patients were unvaccinated, while children aged between one and 14 years were bearing the heaviest burden of the disease.

It cautioned that states with lower coverage of diphtheria-containing vaccines or disruptions to routine immunisation services could face an increased risk of additional outbreaks.

The medical body also warned that delayed presentation and treatment could worsen clinical outcomes and place additional pressure on healthcare facilities, particularly through increased demand for isolation spaces, oxygen, critical care and diphtheria antitoxin.

It noted that misinformation about supposed cures or vaccine safety could undermine public confidence, discourage vaccination and delay people from seeking appropriate medical attention.

To strengthen the response, the Academy called for accelerated immunisation activities in affected states and high-risk neighbouring areas, with particular attention to children and other under-immunised groups.

It also recommended identifying missed opportunities for routine vaccination, mapping communities with low coverage and investigating barriers preventing people from accessing immunisation services.

The Academy urged authorities to mobilise community influencers to encourage vaccine uptake and promote appropriate health-seeking behaviour. It further called for public information materials to be adapted to local languages and literacy levels to improve understanding and counter misinformation.

Schools, boarding facilities, faith communities, camps and densely populated settlements were identified as settings requiring particular attention because of the potential for close contact and transmission.

The Academy also called for stronger infection-prevention and control resources, personal protective equipment for health workers in affected areas, transport support for referrals and community-based contact tracing.

It urged states to maintain surveillance and readiness even where cases had not been reported, warning against complacency and calling for clear channels to report suspected infections and share information among state health ministries and response partners.

The warning carries implications for schools and other educational settings, particularly where students live or learn in crowded environments. The Academy’s recommendations include targeted attention to schools and boarding facilities as part of broader efforts to limit transmission.

The Academy stressed the need for coordinated national and interstate action, combining vaccination, early detection, timely referral, infection control and public communication to reduce the risk of further spread.