Yobe State reports 511 diphtheria cases and 13 deaths in 2026

Yobe State has recorded 511 cases of diphtheria and 13 deaths from January to 8 September, according to health officials.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Muhammad Gana, shared this information in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Thursday.

Mr Gana noted that the 13 deaths give a case fatality rate of 2.5 percent, which is lower than in many other states affected by the disease.

He confirmed that the outbreak affected 12 local government areas in the state, and that vaccination plans in these areas are already in progress.

Mr Gana also mentioned that the current total of 511 diphtheria cases is much lower than the 1,100 cases reported in September 2025 and previous years.

He linked the drop in cases since 2023, when the state noted its highest number of 3,080 cases, to ongoing outbreak response efforts.

The efforts highlighted by the Commissioner include providing free medication to those affected, training health workers on response methods, and carrying out intensive vaccinations in hard-to-reach locations.

There were also community engagement and sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness about the disease.

Health staff have been actively tracing contacts, updating relevant stakeholders, holding regular coordination meetings, and gathering resources for the outbreak response.

Mr Gana praised the support from WHO, UNICEF, and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) for helping the state's vaccination campaign against diphtheria, particularly in nomadic areas.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that mainly targets the throat and upper respiratory tract.

It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and sometimes through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated fluids.