At least 15 people have died in Nigeria after contracting diphtheria, a bacterial infection that mainly attacks the respiratory system, a health official said Tuesday.
The deaths were recorded within just three days of the outbreak’s onset, district health official Baks Bulus told Anadolu.
Authorities have confirmed at least 117 other cases in Jos North Local Government Area within north-central Plateau State, he said.
Bulus described the situation as alarming and warned that further cases could emerge as surveillance continues across affected communities.
Diphtheria spreads easily through close contact, turning shared household items into silent vectors of contagion.
Close contacts who share utensils or towels with an infected person face a heightened risk of transmission, Bulus explained.
The disease remains preventable through vaccination, health experts note.
Last week, more than 30 children died in Kano State, northwestern Nigeria, amid a suspected diphtheria outbreak.
Nigeria has faced recurrent diphtheria outbreaks in recent years, prompting authorities to launch vaccination campaigns nationwide.