MSF Warns of Rising Diphtheria Cases in Seven Northern States

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MSF Warns of Rising Diphtheria Cases in Seven Northern States

MSF Warns of Rising Diphtheria Cases in Seven Northern States

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed concern over the rise in diphtheria cases in Borno, Kano, and Bauchi States, with hundreds of suspected cases reported in the past three months by Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), placing a heavy burden on healthcare facilities and highlighting significant shortcomings in treatment availability and vaccination rates.

MSF, working together with various state health departments, has been increasing its emergency efforts since August because of the rising number of reported cases in the affected regions.

A statement issued by MSF to reporters in Bauchi on Friday explained that diphtheria is a very infectious, rapidly spreading bacterial illness that impacts the respiratory tract or skin, and is transmitted via respiratory droplets or contact with infected surfaces.

MSF's Medical Coordinator, Dr. Halarou Assoumana, stated, "Without treatment, it can kill half of those who become infected, highlighting the critical importance of timely medical care."

He stated, "Even when care is available, the disease is still hazardous and results in death for five percent of patients. These statistics underline the essential need for early detection, access to antitoxin, and strong vaccination rates to avoid serious consequences and lower death rates."

Nevertheless, MSF has recognized various obstacles impacting the response, such as insufficient regular vaccination rates, restricted availability of life-saving diphtheria antitoxin (DAT), and ongoing shortages of medical personnel. Enhancing standard monitoring and data gathering could also be crucial in reducing the spread.

In Bauchi State, the Diphtheria Treatment Centre (DTC) at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), which is supported by MSF, documented 295 patients admitted between August 21 and November 9, 2025.

The high volume of patients has also led to the establishment of a treatment center at a specialized hospital.

In Kano State, MSF teams initiated support for suspected cases in October, following their earlier response to an outbreak in the region from January 2023 to April 2024.

By the first week of November 2025, over 2,300 individuals affected by diphtheria were admitted to hospitals in Kano, with the most significant increase—more than 400 new cases—occurring between October 6 and November 2, 2025.

Because of the large number of individuals visiting the DTC at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano, the MSF team is focusing on critical cases and sending those needing advanced care to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).

The Emergency Project Medical Referent of MSF, Dr Jerome Ntarima, stated, "Many of the patients seeking treatment arrive at a late stage with complications. The accounts we are hearing from these individuals indicate that there have been several deaths within their respective communities."

In the Borno State, MSF teams are still carrying out regular awareness campaigns, community monitoring, risk information dissemination, and patient referrals.

From early July to late October 2025, they handled 2,553 patients showing possible symptoms: 1,651 individuals received care at home and 902 were hospitalized in the isolation units at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), working together with the state Ministry of Health.

MSF emphasized that diphtheria remains a persistent illness in Nigeria. As per the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), more than 43,743 potential cases were documented across 360 LGAs from May 2022 to May 2025.

Nine states—Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa—made up 96 percent of all documented cases.

MSF is urging immediate steps from national governments, collaborators, and financial supporters to boost and maintain immunization rates and guarantee consistent availability of DAT, antibiotics, and critical resources.

It emphasized that enhancing regular monitoring and data systems, along with investing in the healthcare workforce through hiring, training, and keeping staff, is essential for controlling the spread and preventing future infections.

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