In A Heart-Wrenching Tragedy That Has Shaken The Hotoron Yan Dodo Community In Tarauni Local Government Area Of Kano State, Four Out Of Five Children From The Same Household Have Died From Diphtheria Within Just Two Weeks.
The Grieving Father, Malam Yusuf Maitama, Recounted Tearfully How His Children Fell Ill One After The Other, Displaying Classic Symptoms Of Diphtheria, Including Fever, Sore Throat, Nasal Discharge, And The Appearance Of A White Membrane In The Throat. Initially, The Family Did Not Recognize The Severity Of The Disease.
“The Youngest Child, A Girl Under Five, Woke Up With A Fever, Sore Throat, Catarrh, And A Visible White Substance In Her Throat,” Malam Yusuf Explained.
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“We Tried To Manage It At Home, But Her Condition Worsened. She Became Very Weak, So We Rushed Her To The Hospital. Sadly, She Died The Same Day.”
READ MORE: Edo Confirms Three Deaths, Six Diphtheria Cases – Health Commissioner
Just Days Later, Her Seven-Year-Old Sister Began Showing Similar Symptoms. Despite Receiving Medical Attention, She Passed Away Within Two Days.
“That Was The Second Child In One Week. At First, People Even Suggested Maybe It Was Spiritual. But Doctors Confirmed It Was Diphtheria. That’s When I Realized The Rest Of My Kids Were At Serious Risk,” He Said, Overcome With Emotion.
Malam Yusuf Revealed That The Remaining Three Children Were Tested, And Two More Succumbed To The Disease, While The Eldest Daughter Survived After Urgent Medical Intervention.
“The Third Victim Passed Away Seven Days After Her Sisters. She Had Been Admitted To Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Where Doctors Noted One Of Her Kidneys Was Failing. Due To A Lack Of Available Beds, We Had To Take Her Home Temporarily, And She Died That Very Night,” He Added, Emotionally Drained.
Still Grieving, Malam Yusuf Could Not Disclose The Names Of His Children. The Family Continues To Mourn, And This Marks His First Interview Since The Tragedy Occurred.
The Incident Has Sent Shockwaves Through The Community, Leaving Residents, Particularly Those With Young Children, In Fear. Health Officials Have Visited The Area, Conducted Fumigation, And Administered Vaccinations To Children In The Vicinity.
This Is Not Kano’s First Encounter With Family Losses Due To Diphtheria. In 2024, Three Children From One Family In Gaida, Kumbotso LGA, Died From The Disease Within A Week.
Nablusi Abubakar Kofar Naisa, A State Health Spokesperson, Stated That Most Children Who Die From Diphtheria Are Unvaccinated. “If You Hear Of A Death, It’s Likely The Child Was Not Vaccinated. That’s The Main Issue We’re Dealing With. This Is Why We Urge Parents To Take Their Children For Free Immunization — It Doesn’t Cost A Thing,” He Said.
The Kano State Government Has Intensified Efforts To Combat Diphtheria, Including Designating A Specialized Hospital For Children Affected By The Disease. Additionally, Other Hospitals Are Providing Tests, Treatment, And Vaccinations Free Of Charge.
Despite These Efforts, Diphtheria Remains A Persistent Threat To Children In Kano. The State Experienced A Major Outbreak In 2023, With Over 10,000 Children Infected And Nearly 1,000 Deaths Recorded. Recurring Outbreaks Are Often Linked To Weather Conditions, Weak Healthcare Infrastructure, And Delayed Medical Attention.
A Recent Study Published By The National Library Of Medicine In July 2025 Reported A Diphtheria Case Fatality Rate Of 4.5%. The Study Highlighted That Unvaccinated Children Have More Than Double The Risk Of Death Compared To Those Fully Vaccinated, While Children Without Vaccination Records Face An 87% Higher Risk.
As Kano Mourns Yet Another Tragedy, Health Officials Urge Parents To Vaccinate Their Children And Seek Immediate Medical Attention At The First Signs Of Symptoms, Including Fever, Cough, Sore Throat, Swollen Throat, Or Difficulty Breathing. Timely Intervention Can Save Lives.
