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Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria: 1,319 People Have Died Since May 2022

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According to the statement made by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a total of 1,319 people have lost their lives due to diphtheria in Nigeria since May 2022. NCDC reported that approximately 1,319 people have died due to diphtheria in the country in the past three years. The latest situation report prepared by the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre of NCDC revealed 23 new diphtheria cases identified in the country in the past week. Since May 2022, more than 42,000 cases have been recorded in all 36 states of the country in the ongoing outbreak, with 1,319 fatalities so far. Furthermore, NCDC has launched a vaccination campaign in areas with high numbers of cases to combat diphtheria. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a second wave of the outbreak due to the increasing diphtheria cases in the country. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had sent 9.3 million doses of vaccine to Nigeria last year to aid in the fight against the outbreak. Diphtheria, also known as “throat distemper,” occurs when the microorganism called “corynebacterium diphtheriae” settles in the throat, nose, eyes, and skin. This infectious disease can lead to death.

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