Zamfara Says 44 Dead, 367 Diphtheria Cases Confirmed as School Resumption Is Delayed
Zamfara health authorities say the state has confirmed 367 cases of diphtheria and recorded 44 deaths, as the outbreak forces the government to delay the reopening of schools.
The figures were contained in the state’s September 15 update, which also said more than 320 patients had been treated and discharged.
Health officials said laboratory testing confirmed the disease, while additional samples sent to the National Reference Centre in Abuja returned the same diagnosis.
The outbreak has now moved beyond treatment centres into the education system, with public and private schools directed to remain closed until September 28, 2026.
State authorities said the additional period would be used to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination verification and public sensitisation before pupils and teachers return to classrooms.
Children Among Those Most Affected
Zamfara’s Director of Public Health, Dr Yusuf Haske, said children aged between six and 10 were among the groups most affected.
The state has activated its Incident Management System and deployed rapid-response teams across all 14 local government areas.
General hospitals have also established isolation centres, while Gusau Local Government Area — which has recorded the highest number of cases — has several treatment centres, according to the health ministry.
Authorities have urged residents to seek medical attention quickly when symptoms associated with diphtheria appear.
The outbreak comes amid wider concern over vaccination gaps.
Earlier national disease-surveillance reporting identified Zamfara among states accounting for a large share of confirmed diphtheria cases, while unvaccinated people made up a significant proportion of confirmed infections.
Schools Become Part of the Containment Strategy
The delayed school resumption gives the outbreak a second consequence for families: disruption to the academic calendar.
The state government directed school proprietors, administrators and management boards to use the additional period to improve sanitation, decontaminate school premises and provide adequate handwashing facilities.
Parents were also asked to cooperate with vaccination, screening and other preventive measures.
But the closure also creates a clear accountability test.
The issue is no longer only whether schools reopen on September 28. It is whether health authorities can use the additional time to identify cases faster, improve vaccination coverage, contain transmission and demonstrate that classrooms can reopen more safely.
As of the state’s September 15 update, the official picture stood at 367 confirmed cases, more than 320 patients treated and discharged, and 44 reported deaths.
Health authorities say surveillance, case management and community engagement are continuing across Zamfara’s 14 local government areas.
What happens next: The next test will be whether case numbers stabilise, vaccination and surveillance coverage improve, and the September 28 school reopening date remains viable.
