Get Guardian on Google…KNCDC laments vaccine shortage
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has confirmed fresh 12 cases Diphtheria disease at a public boarding school triggering fear of possible spread in school population.
The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, who confirmed the development, revealed the agency received the report on Wednesday and immediately deployed a team to investigate with a view to contain possible spread.
The deadly disease resurface again was reported at the First Lady’s College, Mariri, in Kumbotso Local Government area of Kano State by a health authorities suspecting hundreds of students may have been infections.
A staff member of the school, who do not want his name mentioned disclosed to journalists that the outbreak was detected among students of the boarding school, which has over 2,000 students.
According to the source, one of the affected students who developed severe symptoms has been admitted at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Kano, while other affected students are receiving treatment within the school premises.
“They came with a Rapid Response Team (RRT), supported by officials from Kumbotso, Tarauni and Nassarawa local government areas,” the source said.
Confirming the development to journalists, Professor Abbas revealed 313 suspected cases were subjected to test out of which 12 confirmed after clinical examination.
The KNCDC boss also lamented acute shortage of vaccines to further contain the spread of the Diphtheria disease in Kano added that the school requires a mass vaccination campaign to protect over 2,000 students.
“We received the report on Wednesday and went there immediately for investigation and response aimed at curtailing further spread of the disease,” he said.
“We tested 313 suspected cases, out of which 12 were clinically confirmed. We conducted active case searches in the school and confirmed the cases.
“We administered medication to all suspected contacts and sensitised other students on the disease. There is a need for massive vaccination in the school, which we presently do not have. We have to ask for more vaccines to administer to the students,” he said.
Outbreak of Diphtheria has reportedly killed about 50 people in Rano local government area of Kano state and several other hospitalize in October 2026.
However the tragic incident has compelled lawmakers from Kano state house of Assembly demanding immediate action to mitigate the health burden.
But the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) confirmed that the centre was investigating the incident while contemplating the figure.
Although the agency confirmed record of 32 diphtheria cases in Kano out of which 25 were recorded in August, six in July and one in May.
