Diphtheria Outbreak Claims Lives of Children, Forces School Closures in Imo

An outbreak of diphtheria has devastated the Mbutu Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, leaving an unconfirmed number of children dead and prompting the closure of schools across the community.

The Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Hon. Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the tragic development in a statement released on Monday, describing the situation as a public health emergency.

“This outbreak has taken young lives within days of its emergence,” Alaribe said, through his spokesman, Godspower Dike. “We have temporarily closed down schools in Mbutu and set up an isolation centre at Mbutu Health Centre to contain further spread.”

Diphtheria, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, affects the throat and airways and can also impact the skin. It is spread through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, making crowded areas like schools especially vulnerable.

Health officials from the Imo State Ministry of Health, the Department of Disease Prevention and Control, the World Health Organization (WHO), and local government health workers have mobilized to contain the outbreak. Emergency response teams are conducting investigations, providing vaccinations, and managing treatment for suspected cases.

The LGA chairman urged parents to act immediately:

“Parents who have not vaccinated their children are strongly urged to do so without delay. Vaccinations are critical in preventing the spread of this deadly disease.”

Residents were also advised to keep children indoors and avoid public gatherings while the containment efforts continue.

The outbreak in Imo State is the latest in a series of diphtheria flare-ups across Nigeria. Earlier in May, two children were reported dead in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), as of March 9, 2025, Nigeria had recorded 25,812 confirmed diphtheria cases out of 42,642 suspected across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Since the outbreak resurfaced in 2022, the country has recorded over 1,319 deaths.

In his statement, Godspower Dike appealed for public calm and cooperation:

“We encourage the public to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities. We are doing everything possible to bring this outbreak under control, and we will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.”