Nigeria’s diphtheria outbreak has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, prompting the Nigerian Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) to warn that low immunity among unvaccinated children could allow the disease to spread beyond the worst-hit states if urgent intervention is not sustained.

According to the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the country has recorded 10,476 confirmed cases and 12,977 suspected cases since the beginning of 2026, with 406 deaths linked to the outbreak.

The NAMS said the outbreak remains heavily concentrated in northern Nigeria, where 98 per cent of confirmed infections are located across eight states: Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara.

Medical experts attributed the surge largely to inadequate vaccination coverage, noting that children who have not received routine immunisation remain the most vulnerable to severe infection and death.

The academy explained that diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial disease transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact, making schools, households and densely populated communities particularly vulnerable during outbreaks.

NCDC data also shows that about 68 per cent of confirmed cases involve unvaccinated individuals, while a significant proportion of the remaining cases have unknown vaccination status, highlighting persistent immunity gaps in affected communities.

Health experts warned that without aggressive vaccination campaigns, early diagnosis and prompt treatment, the disease could spread more widely across the country despite its current concentration in a handful of states.

The academy urged parents to ensure eligible children complete their routine immunisation schedule, stressing that vaccination remains the most effective protection against severe diphtheria.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, swollen glands, difficulty swallowing and breathing, while severe cases can lead to heart complications, nerve damage and death if left untreated.

Public health authorities have continued vaccination campaigns, surveillance and case management in affected states, while calling on residents to report suspected cases early and avoid delaying treatment.

The NAMS said strengthening routine immunisation and improving access to primary healthcare would be critical to preventing the outbreak from evolving into a broader national public health emergency.