Diphtheria outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa
Should I be worried? · Pathogen library: diphtheria · Nigeria · Nicaragua · Chad · Guinea · Mali · Mauritania · Somalia
| Official | Media, unverified | Reported this week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | — | 485 2,203 highest in the last 7 days | — |
| Confirmed cases | — | 10,415 40,460 highest in the last 7 days | — |
| Suspected cases | — | 13,815 61,930 highest in the last 7 days | — |
| Hospitalised | — | 5 | — |
The clearest official picture available in this session is still WHO’s regional Diphtheria - African Region notice published on 2025-11-21, covering 2025-01-01 to 2025-11-02. WHO reported 20,412 suspected cases and 1,252 deaths across eight African countries, said several countries had ongoing outbreaks since 2023, and assessed regional risk as high while global risk remained low. WHO also highlighted low laboratory confirmation and shortages of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT). For 2026, the tracker has only unverified media ingests so far. These suggest continuing activity in Nigeria, especially Plateau State and the Federal Capital Territory. Media citing Plateau State health authorities reported 303 suspected cases and 27 deaths on 2026-09-10, rising to 469 suspected cases and 31 deaths by 2026-09-26, with three confirmed cases reported in some versions. On 2026-10-07, another report cited a local authority in the FCT saying two people had died and five were hospitalized. However, current national totals are contested: one article mixes incompatible Nigeria-wide figures attributed variously to NCDC, WHO and other reports. What to watch next is whether any 2026 official bulletins confirm continued multi-country spread beyond Nigeria, whether DAT shortages are easing, and whether the Nigerian figures now circulating in media are reconciled by official line lists or situation reports.
Situation as of 7 Oct 2026
Official
No 2026 WHO Disease Outbreak News item or national authority bulletin for this regional monitoring record was located in this session. The latest official regional account found is WHO’s 2025-11-21 notice covering 2025-01-01 to 2025-11-02: 20,412 suspected cases and 1,252 deaths across eight African countries, with recent deterioration noted in Mali, Mauritania and Niger; WHO assessed the regional public health risk as high and the global risk as low.
Media, unverified
Unverified media reports collected by the tracker indicate continuing Nigerian activity in 2026. They cite Plateau State health authorities for 303 suspected cases and 27 deaths on 2026-09-10, later 469 suspected cases and 31 deaths by 2026-09-26, and some versions add three confirmed cases. Another 2026-10-07 report cites a local FCT authority saying two people died and five people were hospitalized. A 2026-10-03 article also presents several conflicting Nigeria-wide totals attributed to NCDC, WHO and other reports.
Control measures
WHO describes vaccination response, enhanced surveillance, case detection, case management, laboratory support, and risk communication as core response measures. WHO also notes DAT shortages and limited laboratory capacity as major constraints. In 2026 Nigerian media, there are references to hospital management of cases in the FCT and school-related administrative action in Zamfara, but these reports remain unverified in this session.
Timeline
- · WHO reported 20,412 suspected diphtheria cases and 1,252 deaths across eight African Region member states from 2025-01-01 to 2025-11-02, and assessed regional risk as high.
- · Media citing Plateau State health authorities reported 303 suspected cases and 27 deaths in Plateau State, Nigeria.
- · An unverified Nigerian media report said Zamfara ordered schools to resume Monday amid diphtheria-related concern, indicating school-sector administrative action.
- · Media citing Plateau State authorities reported 469 suspected cases and 31 deaths in Plateau State; some versions also reported three confirmed cases.
- · An unverified media report cited a local authority in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory saying two people had died and five were hospitalized.
Latest reports
- · Daily Trust · Media, unverified
Diphtheria claims 2 lives as 5 hospitalised in FCT - · newtelegraphng.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria Resurgence: Rising Cases Signal Critical Immunisation Gaps - · blueprint.ng · Media, unverified
Sokoto ADC governorship candidate raises concerns over alleged Diphtheria deaths - · msn.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria resurfaces in Morocco, as in Africa: what's driving the comeback? - · medafricatimes.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria outbreak claims 31 lives in Nigeria’s Plateau State - · ait.live · Media, unverified
Plateau State Faces Shortage Of Diphtheria Vaccine To Contain Outbreak - · vanguardngr.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria: Death toll hits 31 as cases rise to 469 in Plateau - · newscentraltv.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria: Zamfara Orders Schools To Resume Monday - · aa.com.tr · Media, unverified
Diphtheria deaths in Nigeria’s Plateau State rise to 27 as suspected cases hit 303 - · dailytrust.com · Media, unverified
Diphtheria outbreak: We can do better