Kano father loses five children to suspected diphtheria within eight days

A grieving father in Kano State, Ibrahim Yusuf, has recounted how he lost five of his children within eight days to suspected diphtheria, as concerns grow over the spread of the disease in the state.

Yusuf, a resident of Danbare in Kano metropolis, told Daily Trust that the ordeal began last week when his children developed fever.

He said he initially took them to Kabuga Primary Healthcare Centre, but they were later referred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) after their conditions worsened.

According to him, two of his children d!ed on the same Monday, about 40 minutes apart, after being admitted to the hospital.

“They told us it was diphtheria. They admitted them, but two of them d!ed the same day,” he said.

Yusuf said three other children subsequently developed similar symptoms and were also admitted to the facility. However, another child d!ed on Tuesday night, while two more d!ed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths in the family to five within eight days.

The grieving father identified the deceased children as Sadiq, 13; Aisha, seven; Zainab, seven; Umar, six; and Aliyu, one year and six months old.

“They all d!ed in quick succession,” he said, adding that the tragedy had devastated his family, which has 11 children.

Yusuf also claimed that he witnessed several bodies being taken away from the hospital, alleging that families in his neighbourhood were equally affected by the outbreak.

He appealed to the government to intensify efforts to contain the disease and prevent further loss of lives.

Daily Trust reported that health officials were administering diphtheria vaccines to children in the area, with more than 400 children reportedly vaccinated.

A staff member of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, reportedly confirmed the five d3aths and said fatalities recorded at the health facility were increasing.

The development comes amid concerns over the spread of diphtheria in Kano. In August, Ibrahim Muhammad, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Rano Constituency, claimed that at least 50 children had d!ed in his constituency.

However, the KNCDC disputed that figure, saying only two d3aths had been officially confirmed in the local government. The agency also disclosed that Kano had recorded more than 38,000 suspected diphtheria cases since the outbreak began in 2022, with over 31,000 confirmed.

Diphtheria is a serious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that commonly affects the nose and throat. According to Dr Aminu Mato Jitandutse of the Community Medicine Department at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, the disease spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected people.

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, painful swallowing, weakness, swollen neck glands and, in severe cases, a thick greyish or whitish membrane in the throat that can obstruct breathing.

The infection can also cause complications affecting the heart, nerves and kidneys, and may lead to d3ath if not promptly treated.

Jitandutse stressed the importance of routine childhood vaccination, booster doses and early medical attention for suspected cases. He also advised isolating confirmed cases, assessing close contacts promptly and maintaining good hygiene to reduce transmission.