The Kano State Government has dismissed reports that 50 children died from diphtheria in Rano Local Government Area of the state.
The Director-General, Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, made the clarification in a statement on Friday.
Abbas said the claim, attributed to Ibrahim Muhammad, member representing Rano Constituency, was “unverified and misleading.”
He acknowledged that diphtheria was an ongoing outbreak in the area and had claimed lives, but said the reported figure of 50 deaths was not supported by the centre’s surveillance data.
According to him, two deaths were recorded from diphtheria in Rano in 2026, while 29 deaths had been recorded cumulatively between July 2023 and August 2026.
He said the centre recorded 32 diphtheria cases in Rano, with 25 patients treated at the Diphtheria Treatment Centre at Rano General Hospital and seven others at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Kano.
“94 per cent of the affected persons had not been vaccinated, while 91 per cent presented late for treatment,” he said.
The KNCDC boss stressed the need for early detection and prompt treatment, urging residents to report suspected cases to health facilities without delay.
Abbas also criticised the lawmaker for making what he described as unverified claims without first consulting the Kano State Ministry of Health or the KNCDC.
He said the lawmaker had made similar unverified claims in October 2025, warning that such statements could mislead the public and undermine disease surveillance and response efforts.
The director-general said KNCDC had deployed a team to communities reportedly affected by the outbreak to verify the alleged deaths.
He said the team had so far been unable to establish the reported deaths despite engaging with residents.
Abbas questioned how 50 deaths could occur without being reported through the state’s existing community and disease surveillance structures.
He listed the structures to include traditional institutions, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, Ward Focal Persons, Community Informants, Community Mobilisers, Surveillance Focal Persons and Field Volunteers.
“These structures provide regular reports to the KNCDC and other health partners as part of the state’s disease surveillance system,” he said.
He said the centre had also attempted to meet with the lawmaker to obtain first-hand information on the alleged deaths and establish whether he had been misinformed or could provide details that would lead health officials to the affected families.
According to him, such information would enable the centre to conduct further investigations, including verbal autopsies where necessary.
He, however, said efforts to establish contact with the lawmaker had so far been unsuccessful.
Abbas commended the Kano State and Federal Governments for their continued support for disease surveillance and outbreak response.
He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to strengthening surveillance, ensuring rapid response and working with relevant stakeholders to prevent and control disease outbreaks across the state.
