A medical doctor at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Nankwat Jeplah, has urged Nigerians to embrace vaccination and preventive measures amid the continued burden of diphtheria in the country.
Jeplah said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recorded more than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases in 2026, according to its Week 32 epidemiological report.
He described diphtheria as a serious and highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from infected people and can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces.
The disease primarily affects the nose, mouth and throat, although it can also cause skin infections. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, runny nose, neck swelling, difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Jeplah warned that severe cases could cause airway obstruction and require urgent hospital care, including intensive care in some situations.
He stressed that vaccination remains the primary means of preventing diphtheria, warning that incomplete immunisation could contribute to increased transmission.
The doctor urged parents and caregivers to ensure children receive recommended diphtheria-containing vaccines and to seek prompt medical attention if symptoms develop.
