Zamfara State records 44 deaths from diphtheria outbreak, extends school resumption

The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has declared a diphtheria outbreak after recording 44 deaths and 367 suspected cases. In response, Governor Dauda Lawal activated the Incident Management System, establishing isolation centers across 14 local government areas, with Gusau being the hardest hit. To curb active community transmission, particularly among children aged six to ten, the Ministry of Education extended the resumption of public and private schools by two weeks to September 28, 2026.

Zamfara diphtheria outbreak

• ▪Children aged between six and 10 years are among the population most affected by the diphtheria outbreak in Zamfara State.
• ▪Laboratory tests conducted at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed the presence of the diphtheria-causing organism in samples from Zamfara State.
• ▪The Zamfara State Ministry of Health recorded 367 clinically suspected cases of diphtheria following laboratory confirmation of the disease-causing organism.

Diphtheria death toll

• ▪Public health officials in Zamfara State attributed the continued spread of diphtheria partly to active community transmission.
• ▪The Zamfara State Ministry of Health recorded 44 deaths from the diphtheria outbreak as of September 14, 2026.

Patient treatment outcomes

• ▪Treated diphtheria patients in Zamfara State who required continued treatment at home were provided with oral medication.
• ▪More than 320 diphtheria patients in Zamfara State were successfully treated and discharged as of September 14, 2026.

School resumption extension

• ▪The Zamfara State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology extended the resumption of public and private schools by two weeks due to the diphtheria outbreak.
• ▪Zamfara State Commissioner for Education Abdulmalik Gajam directed school proprietors to clean and decontaminate school premises and ensure handwashing facilities are available.
• ▪Zamfara State Commissioner for Education Abdulmalik Gajam announced September 28, 2026, as the tentative new resumption date for schools in the state.

Public health response measures

• ▪Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal directed the Ministry of Health to declare the diphtheria outbreak and activate the Incident Management System.
• ▪General hospitals across Zamfara State established isolation centres, including approximately four treatment centres in the Gusau Local Government Area, to treat diphtheria patients.

Community disease surveillance

• ▪Disease surveillance and notification officers across Zamfara State's 14 local government areas were deployed to identify diphtheria cases and coordinate responses.
• ▪The school resumption extension was designed to allow Zamfara State authorities to strengthen disease surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination verification, and public sensitisation.