Diphtheria fight gains ground in Borno

A mass vaccination drive against diphtheria has been carried out in Maiduguri, with humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières working alongside the Borno State Ministry of Health to reach children most at risk as Nigeria confronts a severe outbreak of the disease.

In a statement released on Thursday, MSF said the campaign focused on children under the age of 14 in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, one of the areas hardest hit by the infection. The organisation described the city as a key centre of transmission during the current outbreak.

The first phase of the exercise, conducted between 9 and 15 February, exceeded its target by immunising about 490,000 children, well above the projected 387,000. A second round, held from 9 to 15 April, aimed to reinforce protection among roughly 360,000 of those already vaccinated.

Despite the progress, MSF cautioned that shortages of vaccines limited the overall reach of the intervention.

“This vaccination will help to significantly boost the immunity levels of children below 14 years old in Maiduguri, the area responsible for most of the diphtheria cases we saw in our treatment centre.

“This proactive step is essential to controlling and preventing the disease,” the organisation said, quoting its emergency coordinator, Nao Muramoto.

Nigeria continues to grapple with a prolonged diphtheria outbreak. Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that, as of 22 March 2026, there have been 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths since the disease resurfaced in May 2022 and was formally declared in 2023.Dptherr

Borno remains among the most affected states, with health officials linking the situation to low routine immunisation coverage, displacement caused by conflict, and limited access to healthcare services.

MSF said it has treated more than 7,400 suspected cases in the state since 2023, including 4,200 within the past year.

Diphtheria is a highly infectious bacterial disease spread through respiratory droplets or contact with infected wounds. It commonly causes sore throat, fever and swollen glands, and can produce a thick membrane in the throat that obstructs breathing. In severe cases, toxins released by the bacteria can damage vital organs such as the heart and kidneys, and may result in paralysis. Without treatment, it can be fatal in up to 30 per cent of cases, particularly among unvaccinated children.

The organisation provided logistical backing for the campaign, including cold chain storage, transport of vaccines, supervision of field teams and community awareness efforts, while the state government supplied the doses.

MSF added that the exercise also improved case detection, as more patients began presenting at the diphtheria treatment unit of the Maiduguri Teaching and Training Hospital, suggesting heightened awareness and referrals within communities.

Beyond Borno, the group is supporting response efforts in Bauchi, Kano and Sokoto states, where authorities are managing thousands of suspected and confirmed infections.

“Sustained routine immunisation against diphtheria, improved access in volatile areas and tackling vaccine hesitancy remain essential to prevent future surges of vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria,” the organisation said.

“Access to more vaccines is needed, as efforts to reach the children of Borno State should remain a priority to avoid further contaminations, to cut transmission and save lives,” it added.

Public health specialists warn that the outbreak highlights persistent weaknesses in immunisation coverage across parts of northern Nigeria. They stress that without sustained investment in vaccination programmes and emergency response systems, the country could face repeated outbreaks of preventable diseases.