The suspected diphtheria outbreak in Plateau State has killed 23 people, with 143 suspected cases recorded in two weeks, the state government said.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed the figures on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, saying nine patients were being treated in isolation at hospitals in Jos.
Seven patients are at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while two are at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.
Rikkos community in Jos North Local Government Area is at the centre of the outbreak, prompting intensified surveillance and community sensitization.
Ba’amlong said late presentation, limited access to diphtheria antitoxin and inadequate materials for collecting and transporting samples were hampering the response.
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The government has mobilized traditional rulers and other community stakeholders to strengthen awareness, encourage early reporting and curb transmission.
The latest figures represent an increase from the previously reported 15 deaths and 117 suspected cases.
The Plateau outbreak comes amid Nigeria’s wider diphtheria resurgence, which became prominent after a major outbreak in Kano State in late 2022.
By April 2023, the World Health Organization had recorded 1,439 suspected cases nationally since May 2022, including 557 confirmed cases and 73 deaths among confirmed cases.
Diphtheria is a potentially fatal bacterial infection spread mainly through respiratory droplets and close contact. Vaccination and prompt treatment are key to preventing severe disease and further transmission.
Residents have been urged to seek immediate medical care and report suspected cases at recognized health facilities.