A deadly diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu Community, located in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has resulted in the deaths of several children and forced the immediate closure of schools in the area.
While the exact number of fatalities has yet to be confirmed, the situation has raised alarm, according to a report by Daily Trust on Wednesday.
Iheukwumere Alaribe, Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, confirmed the outbreak in a statement released on May 26, 2025. He noted that the community was taking urgent steps to contain the spread of the disease.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection caused by the toxin-producing bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It primarily affects the nose and throat but can also involve the skin.
The disease spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces and individuals.
Following the outbreak, schools in Mbutu have been shut down, and parents have been advised to keep their children at home.
“Diphtheria claimed the lives of the children less than a week after its outbreak,” said Alaribe.
Efforts to contain the outbreak are being led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Imo State Ministry of Health’s Department of Disease Prevention and Control, and local health workers.
An isolation centre has been set up at Mbutu Health Centre, where exposed children are being quarantined and affected families are receiving medical attention.
Godspower Dike, spokesperson for the LGA chairman, emphasized the importance of vaccination.
“We urge all parents who have not yet vaccinated their children to do so immediately. Vaccination is a critical tool in preventing the spread of diphtheria and protecting our children’s health,” he said.
Dike also called for public cooperation. “We encourage residents to remain calm and support health authorities in managing the outbreak. More updates will be shared as the situation develops,” he added.
Earlier in May, two children in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State, also died from diphtheria, highlighting the ongoing threat of the disease.
Diphtheria is preventable through vaccination, and health experts continue to stress the importance of routine immunization.
As of March 9, 2025, Nigeria has recorded 25,812 confirmed diphtheria cases out of 42,642 suspected across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The outbreak has resulted in 1,319 deaths, with confirmed cases spread across 184 local government areas in 26 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest report.
