A deadly diphtheria outbreak has rocked the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State, leaving two children dead within 48 hours and igniting urgent calls for a coordinated health response.
Terrified residents raised the alarm as several children began showing classic symptoms—sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and severe fatigue—triggering panic over the fast-spreading infection.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has since confirmed the re-emergence of diphtheria and is also warning of an even deadlier, less visible threat—Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) director Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a heartfelt statement, said: “The recent tragic loss of two children in just 48 hours underscores the urgent need for a coordinated health response. Diphtheria may be preventable, but it’s far from defeated.”
Diphtheria, a bacterial infection that mainly affects the throat and nose, can lead to severe complications, including respiratory failure and heart damage. Though once common, routine vaccination had largely driven it into obscurity—until now.
Suleiman is calling on parents to cooperate with health officials, stressing the importance of vaccinating children and seeking prompt medical care at the first sign of illness.
Meanwhile, NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris has raised fresh concerns over AMR, calling it a ‘silent killer’ more lethal than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.
“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites adapt to resist medications, making routine infections deadly,” he said at the weekend in Abuja. “It is a global crisis, and many Nigerians don’t even know it exists.”
Dr Idris revealed that Nigeria is implementing a National Action Plan on AMR 2.0, which includes strategies for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable health financing.
“We’re rolling out specific programmes to combat AMR, and these efforts must become a core part of our healthcare system,” he said.
As Zaria mourns its young victims, health experts warn: both diphtheria and AMR are stark reminders that complacency in the face of preventable diseases can be fatal.
