By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja, Nigeria – 21 November 2025.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with state Ministries of Health, has significantly expanded its emergency diphtheria response following a sharp rise in suspected cases across Borno, Kano, and Bauchi States. Since August, hundreds of suspected infections have been reported by Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), placing immense pressure on already strained health facilities and exposing major gaps in treatment availability and vaccination coverage.
Diphtheria is a fast-spreading, highly contagious bacterial disease affecting the respiratory system or the skin, transmitted through droplets or contaminated surfaces.
“Without treatment, diphtheria can kill up to half of those infected. Even with proper care, the disease remains life-threatening, with a fatality rate of around five percent,” said Dr. Halarou Assoumana, MSF Medical Coordinator. “These numbers underscore the urgency of early diagnosis, access to diphtheria antitoxin, and strong vaccination coverage to prevent avoidable deaths.”
Critical Gaps Hindering Response
MSF highlights several challenges contributing to the ongoing outbreak, including:
Low routine vaccination coverage
Nationwide shortages of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT)
Limited trained health personnel
Weak surveillance and data reporting systems
State-by-State Breakdown of MSF’s Intervention
Bauchi State
At the MSF-supported Diphtheria Treatment Centre (DTC) in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), 295 patients were admitted between 21 August and 9 November 2025. The surge has necessitated the opening of an additional treatment centre at a specialist hospital.
Kano State
MSF resumed support for diphtheria management in October 2025. By the first week of November, over 2,300 patients had been hospitalised, with more than 400 admissions recorded between 6 October and 2 November alone.
Due to overwhelming patient numbers at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), MSF teams are prioritising severe cases and referring critical patients requiring advanced care to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
“Most patients arrive late, often with severe complications,” said Dr. Jerome Ntarima, MSF Emergency Project Medical Referent. “We also receive reports of multiple deaths occurring within the communities before patients even reach a health facility.”
Borno State
MSF continues active community sensitisation, surveillance, risk communication, and referrals. Between early July and late October 2025, MSF managed 2,553 suspected cases—1,651 through home-based care, while 902 were admitted to isolation wards at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health.
National Situation Remains Critical
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 43,743 suspected diphtheria cases were reported between May 2022 and May 2025 across 360 local government areas. Seven states—Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa—account for 96% of all reported infections.
MSF Calls for Urgent National Action
MSF urges government authorities, partners, and donors to:
Scale up and sustain nationwide vaccination
Ensure consistent access to diphtheria antitoxin, antibiotics, and essential medical supplies
Strengthen surveillance and data systems
Recruit, train, and retain healthcare workers
These actions are critical to curbing the current outbreak and preventing future resur
Email: msf-nigeria-press@geneva.msf.org
Email: msf-nigeria-com@paris.msf.org
