By Atoyebi Nike
A diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has claimed the lives of several children. Local authorities have closed schools and launched an emergency response.
The Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the incident in a statement on May 26. The exact number of deaths has not been confirmed.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces. It mainly affects the nose, throat, and skin.
To stop the spread, all schools in Mbutu are now shut. Parents have been told to keep their children at home. Health workers have set up an isolation centre at the Mbutu Health Centre.
“The children died within days of the outbreak,” said Godspower Dike, spokesman for the chairman. He added that the World Health Organization (WHO), state health officials, and local workers are on the ground.
Chairman Alaribe urged parents to vaccinate their children immediately. “Vaccines save lives,” he said. “Every child should be protected.”
Dike also called for calm. “People should stay calm and follow health advice,” he said. “We will share more updates soon.”
Earlier this month, two children died from diphtheria in Tukur-Tukur, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Diphtheria is preventable with routine vaccination. But Nigeria continues to see rising cases. Between 2022 and early 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recorded 25,812 confirmed cases. The disease has killed 1,319 people.
The outbreak has spread to 26 states, 184 local government areas, and affected thousands of families.
Health experts stress that vaccines remain the best protection. They urge all parents to make immunization a priority.
