A father in Kano State, Ibrahim Yusuf, has recounted the painful loss of five of his children within eight days following a suspected diphtheria infection, amid growing concerns over the spread of the disease in the state.
Yusuf, a resident of Danbare in Kano metropolis, said the tragedy began when his children developed fever and were taken to a primary healthcare centre in Kabuga before being referred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, where they received treatment.
He said two of the children died on the same Monday, barely 40 minutes apart, after doctors reportedly diagnosed them with diphtheria.
According to him, three other children later developed similar symptoms and were admitted to the same hospital, but their conditions also deteriorated. One died on Tuesday night, while the remaining two died on Wednesday.
The bereaved father identified the deceased as Sadiq, 13; Aisha, seven; Zainab, seven; Umar, six; and Aliyu, one year and six months. He said the deaths had devastated his family, which has 11 children.
Yusuf also expressed concern over what he described as frequent deaths at the hospital and in his neighbourhood, urging the government to intensify efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further loss of lives.
A staff member of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the five deaths and said fatalities recorded at the health facility were increasing. Efforts to obtain an official response from the agency’s director-general were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns about diphtheria in Kano.
The state has reported tens of thousands of suspected cases since the outbreak began in 2022, with health authorities repeatedly urging residents to ensure routine immunisation and seek immediate medical attention when symptoms appear.
Medical experts warned that diphtheria is a serious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that can affect the throat and nose.
Its toxin, they said, could damage vital organs, including the heart and nerves, while severe cases may cause breathing difficulties and death.
Health professionals advised prompt treatment, isolation of suspected cases and vaccination to curb transmission.
