Diphtheria Outbreak Raises Concern in Rano as Kano Seeks More Vaccines

Residents of Rano Local Government Area of Kano State are calling for urgent government intervention following reports of a diphtheria outbreak that has raised concerns over the safety of children and other vulnerable residents in the community.

The concern has been heightened by the absence of an isolation centre at the Rano Emirates Specialist Hospital. Health authorities reportedly refer identified patients to either Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital or the Infectious Diseases Hospital, located about 60 kilometres from Rano.

Residents say the distance creates additional challenges for families seeking urgent treatment and are therefore appealing to the government to establish a dedicated isolation facility in Rano.

The situation has also prompted calls for stronger surveillance, early detection and immediate treatment of suspected cases, particularly among children.

The Kano State Government has meanwhile appealed to the Federal Government for additional supplies of diphtheria vaccines to support mass vaccination across the state.

The Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Abbas, made the appeal while addressing journalists on Tuesday night.

The briefing followed reports of a diphtheria outbreak in Rano and other parts of Kano State.

The Kano State House of Assembly has raised concerns that more than 50 children may have died from the disease, although the figure requires official confirmation.

Professor Abbas urged parents and other residents to report suspected cases promptly to health facilities, stressing that early detection and medical intervention remain critical in preventing complications and further transmission.

He also expressed concern over cases that are not reported to health authorities, warning that delays in seeking medical attention could make containment efforts more difficult.

Residents are now urging authorities to accelerate vaccination, strengthen case detection and provide isolation facilities closer to affected communities.

They say decisive action is needed to prevent the outbreak from spreading further across Kano State.