Kano Confirms Diphtheria Outbreak In Boarding School, 12 Cases Amid 300 Suspected Infections

13th November, 2026

Fresh Diphtheria Outbreak Hits Kano Boarding School as Health Authorities Warn of Vaccine Shortage

Health authorities in Kano State have confirmed a fresh outbreak of diphtheria at First Lady’s College, Mariri, located in the Kumbotso Local Government Area, raising urgent concerns over the health and safety of over 2,000 students.

According to reports, screening of 313 suspected student infections led to 12 clinically confirmed cases of the potentially deadly bacterial infection. An emergency response was swiftly triggered after a staff member alerted the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) on Wednesday.

Emergency Response and Treatment

Following the alert, the KNCDC deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) alongside health officials from Kumbotso, Tarauni, and Nassarawa local government areas.

• Hospitalization: One student exhibiting severe symptoms has been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Kano.
• On-Site Care: Other confirmed patients are receiving medical attention directly within the school premises.
• Containment: Health officials have administered preventive medication to all suspected contacts and conducted campus-wide student sensitisation campaigns.

Vaccine Shortage Hampers Containment Efforts

Despite rapid containment measures, KNCDC Director-General Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas highlighted a severe bottleneck: a critical shortage of diphtheria vaccines.

“There is a need for massive vaccination in the school, which we presently do not have. We have to ask for more vaccines to administer to the students,” Abbas stated.

This shortfall echoes broader supply constraints across Kano State. Although the KNCDC previously requested nine million doses of diphtheria vaccines for a state-wide mass immunisation campaign, authorities have only received 500,000 doses.

The outbreak underscores the growing vulnerability of densely populated boarding institutions in the state, particularly following recent reports of fatalities linked to the resurgence of the disease across several local government areas.