17 Die as Diphtheria Cases Hit 124 in Niger

By Daily Post | August 8, 2026

No fewer than 17 people have died from diphtheria in Niger State in the last seven months, with 124 cases recorded in Bida, Suleja and Shiroro Local Government Areas.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, disclosed this during a press conference in Minna.

Bagana said 103 patients had been treated and discharged, while three new cases were recently identified, with one patient currently receiving treatment.

He said the state government had intensified surveillance, case management, immunisation and public awareness efforts to contain the outbreak.

The Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Samuel Jiya, attributed the outbreak largely to poor vaccination coverage, warning that children who fail to receive or complete routine immunisation remain vulnerable to diphtheria.

Jiya said investigations showed that some affected children had received only one dose of the pentavalent vaccine, while others, including children aged nine and 10, had never been vaccinated.

He linked the immunisation gaps to migration, vaccine myths and cultural beliefs, stressing that the pentavalent vaccine, administered at six, 10 and 14 weeks, is critical to protecting children against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Meanwhile, Jiya said measles infections had declined, with 31 cases recorded this year, nine testing positive and receiving treatment, while two deaths were reported.