Low vaccination rates, not rainy weather, behind Nigeria’s diphtheria resurgence, expert says

Nigeria’s diphtheria resurgence is being driven by children missing vaccines, not by the rainy season, public health expert Isaac Egboja said in an interview with ARISE NEWS.

Egboja identified incomplete immunisation, overcrowded internally displaced persons’ camps and insecurity as major reasons children remain vulnerable. Outbreaks have continued in several states, including Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Borno. Kano remains the primary epicentre, he said.

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One of the main reasons or indications is that a lot of children have not been immunized at all or are not completely immunized.

Many children have either received no doses or failed to complete the required series. For diphtheria, Egboja said, children need DPT doses one through four, with a fifth dose sometimes given as a booster. Insecurity has also prevented children from reaching health services at scheduled times, while high dropout rates increase the risk of rapid transmission when an infection goes undetected.

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The quicker you are able to intervene to treat a patient, the higher the chances of survival for that patient.

Egboja warned that shortages of diphtheria antitoxin and other essential medical supplies could further hinder treatment. The disease produces toxins, he said, requiring both treatment to neutralise the toxin and treatment to kill the bacterium. Early intervention improves a patient’s chances of survival.

He urged state and local governments to intensify immunisation campaigns and trace children who missed initial doses, completed too few doses or need boosters. Health facilities should also reach children who moved and lost access to vaccination, he said, stressing that children must be fully immunised rather than partially protected.

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The most important thing is to make sure every child is immunized completely, not partially.