Diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria kills 600

Officials have said that over 600 people, mostly children, have died of diphtheria in Nigeria since the current outbreak began in December 2022.

There are currently 14,000 suspected cases, meaning this outbreak is significantly worse than the last one in 2011 when 98 cases were reported.

Diphtheria is highly contagious and affects the nose and throat, also causing ulcers on the skin.  It is spread by sneezes and coughs or through close contact with someone who is infected.  In serious cases it can be fatal.

Although the disease is preventable through vaccines, many of the children who have died in Nigeria were unvaccinated.

The World Health Organisation said the infection and fatality rate may be higher due to low testing and the failure by some patients to report their symptoms, adding that only 57 per cent of Nigerians are immunised with the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria.

It added that Nigeria must increase vaccinations to cover at least 80 per cent of the population to prevent future diphtheria outbreaks.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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