Nigeria reports more than 10,000 diphtheria cases to date in 2026: NCDC
Nigeria has reported over 10,000 cases of diphtheria in 2026, following a significant outbreak in 2025. Health officials attribute the ongoing crisis to low vaccination coverage, particularly in northern states.
Why it matters
The persistence of a vaccine-preventable disease highlights critical gaps in public health infrastructure and immunization programs in the region.
According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Director General, Dr. Gidado Idris, speaking to media in Abuja recently, the country has recorded more than 10,000 cases of the vaccine-preventable disease, diphtheria.
Image/Robert Herriman Officials report that eight state account for 98 percent of the confirmed cases - Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.
NCDC says low vaccination coverage in children accounts for the bulk of the burden.
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