The Kano State Centre for Disease Control has called for an immediate supply of nine million doses of vaccines to curb the spread of diphtheria in the state.

The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Abbas, disclosed this while briefing newsmen, saying the state had a growing number of children who had never received any vaccination.

Abbas said more than 16,000 children in communities across Rano Local Government Area were among those who had received no vaccines.

He said the state government had resolved to procure vaccines for its 784 wards but was restricted by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The KNCDC director-general said the state investigated about 39,000 suspected diphtheria cases between December 2022 and August 2026, with about 32,000 confirmed cases and 1,800 deaths recorded.

He said more than 55 per cent of the confirmed cases involved children who had received no vaccination.

Abbas said more than 27 local government areas had recorded diphtheria cases, although the situation was largely under control due to strengthened surveillance and response measures.

He said the state government had provided drugs and other medical supplies for treatment, while reactive vaccination campaigns were being conducted in communities and schools whenever cases were detected.

Abbas also expressed concern over parents who failed to take suspected cases to health facilities and instead relied on traditional practices, warning that such actions could lead to serious complications.

Meanwhile, Niger State has recorded 17 deaths from diphtheria between January and early August 2026, with 124 confirmed cases.

The disease has been reported in Bida and Agaie Local Government Areas, while surveillance has been intensified in Suleja.

The Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Junaidu Inuwa, attributed the high casualty rate partly to parents and guardians who failed to immunise their children.

He said 84 patients had been treated and discharged, while health authorities continued efforts to contain the outbreak.

The Kano State Government has also constituted a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response to coordinate interventions, assess the outbreak and prevent further spread to neighbouring local government areas.