The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that nearly seven out of every 10 confirmed diphtheria cases recorded in the country are among individuals who have not received the vaccine against the disease.
Michael Okali, the agency’s Principal Health Communication Officer, made the disclosure during an interview with Channels Television on Saturday. He said available data shows that about 68 per cent of confirmed infections involved unvaccinated persons, while another 28 per cent were people whose vaccination status could not be verified.
According to Okali, the majority of fatalities linked to the outbreak have also occurred among those who were not immunised, stressing that no one is completely exempt from the risk of contracting the disease.
He explained that people who fail to complete the recommended vaccination schedule are more susceptible to infection and can easily transmit the disease to others.
The health official urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free immunisation services provided at primary healthcare centres nationwide by ensuring that eligible children receive all required vaccine doses.
Okali also emphasised the need for early reporting of suspected cases, noting that prompt detection and response are critical to limiting the spread of the infection.
He reiterated the importance of completing routine childhood immunisation, saying infants should receive diphtheria vaccines at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age. He added that individuals who are uncertain of their vaccination history can strengthen their immunity by taking booster doses such as the Td or Tdap vaccines, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Providing an update on the outbreak, Okali said eight states—Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara—account for about 98 per cent of all confirmed diphtheria cases recorded across Nigeria.
He further revealed that between August 24 and August 30, 2026, the country recorded 69 suspected cases, out of which 48 were laboratory-confirmed, while four people died from complications associated with the disease.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected skin lesions. Common symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands in the neck and difficulty breathing.
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