A fresh outbreak of diphtheria in Kano State has claimed the lives of more than 40 people, mostly children, and left many others hospitalized. The outbreak has overwhelmed local health facilities, with many patients now being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano.

During a visit to the IDH on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, it was observed that all three wards were completely full, and many more patients were waiting in line to see a doctor. An official from the hospital, who chose to remain anonymous due to restrictions on speaking to the media, reported a high number of daily deaths since the outbreak began two weeks ago.

“Every day, people are dying from this disease,” the official said. “Doctors are seeing many patients daily, and if you visit at any time, you will find dozens of people waiting for treatment. The hospital has been busy nonstop since the outbreak started,” the official added.

The official explained that the hospital is struggling to cope because many other local government hospitals do not have the necessary facilities to handle such cases. “Most patients are being referred here because we are the only facility with the right resources to treat infectious diseases,” the source explained.

One of the patients’ mothers, Samira Danzaki, shared her story. She has been at the hospital for two days with her daughter, who developed a high fever and swelling in her neck. “I brought my daughter here on Sunday, and I am thankful she is now responding well to treatment,” Danzaki said.

Another patient, who was waiting for treatment, reported that his throat condition had worsened after suffering from catarrh. “I came here because my symptoms got worse, and now I have severe throat problems,” the patient said.

When reached for comment, Samira Sulaiman, the Public Relations Officer of the State Hospital Management Board, did not confirm or deny the report. She said that the hospital management is currently holding an emergency meeting on the matter and promised to release an official statement soon.

The outbreak has raised concerns about the state of healthcare in Kano, particularly the capacity of local hospitals to handle infectious diseases. Many are now calling for urgent government intervention to provide better resources and support for healthcare facilities to manage the crisis effectively.