The Kano State Government has refuted claims by a lawmaker that 50 children died from diphtheria outbreak in Rano Local Government Area, insisting that only two deaths have been confirmed so far in 2026.
The member representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Muhammad, had alleged that diphtheria claimed the lives of 50 children in the area.
But the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, in a statement on Friday, described the claim as “unverified and misleading.”
Professor Abbas explained that while diphtheria remains a serious public health challenge in the state, surveillance records do not support the figures being circulated.
He disclosed that between July 2023 and August 2026, Rano recorded 32 cases of diphtheria, with 29 deaths statewide, but only two deaths in Rano itself.
According to him, 25 patients were treated at the Diphtheria Treatment Centre in Rano General Hospital, while seven others received care at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano.
He added that 94 per cent of those affected had not been vaccinated, and 91 per cent presented late for treatment.
The KNCDC boss expressed concern over delays in reporting suspected cases, stressing that early detection and treatment are critical to saving lives.
He criticised the lawmaker for making public statements without consulting health authorities, noting that similar unverified claims were made in October 2025.
Professor Abbas further revealed that KNCDC teams deployed to communities mentioned by the lawmaker could not verify the alleged deaths, despite engaging with residents and surveillance structures such as traditional leaders, Disease Surveillance Officers, and community informants.
He questioned how 50 deaths could occur without being reported through these established channels.
He said efforts to meet with the lawmaker to obtain firsthand information had so far been unsuccessful, but assured that the centre remained committed to investigating any credible leads, including conducting verbal autopsies where necessary.
The KNCDC Director-General commended both the Kano State Government and the Federal Government for their continued support in disease surveillance and outbreak response.
He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to strengthening surveillance, ensuring rapid response, and working with stakeholders to prevent and control disease outbreaks across the state.
