By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has dispatched a rapid response team to Rurum Ward in Rano Local Government Area following reports of a suspected diphtheria outbreak, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen epidemic surveillance and response in the state.
The move followed a directive from the Kano State House of Assembly, which requested an independent verification of rising diphtheria cases reported in the area.
The Director General of KNCDC, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, led the team in collaboration with the Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and other public health experts to assess the situation and implement control measures.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of the KNCDC, Muhammad Dayyabu Ali, stressing that the exercise formed part of the government’s commitment to ensuring evidence-based communication and a coordinated response to public health emergencies.
Earlier on October 22, the State Epidemiologist and a technical team had visited Rurum Ward for preliminary assessment and active case review.
The latest visit provided an opportunity for a more comprehensive evaluation, ensuring that community-level realities inform the government’s response strategy.
During the visit, the team inspected key health facilities, including the Rano Emirate Special Hospital, the Diphtheria and Communicable Disease Response Centre, and the Primary Health Care Hospital, where they met with health workers to review preparedness levels, surveillance activities, and case management protocols.
Strategic meetings were also held with local health authorities, including Dr. Idris Ibn Garba, Zonal Chief Medical Director, and Muktar Muhammad Sani, Chief Medical Officer of Rano Emirate Special Hospital.
The team conducted an active case search across the facilities, confirming that no new fatalities were recorded beyond the four previously reported cases.
The KNCDC delegation further met with community leaders, including the District Head of Rurum, Alhaji Ado Yusif, and the Ward Head of Tsohon Gari, Malam Amadu Haruna Katanga, to discuss community engagement and local prevention strategies.
The team also visited Makara Huta to sympathize with Malam Zaharaddin Ado, who had earlier lost four children to diphtheria, reaffirming the government’s support to affected families.
Speaking during the field visit, the Director of Disease, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (DHEPR), Dr. Abdulwahab Kabir Sulaiman, who represented the KNCDC Director General, explained that diphtheria symptoms include sore throat, fever, difficulty in breathing, swollen neck (bull neck), and a thick gray coating on the throat and tonsils.
“Anyone experiencing such symptoms should immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility,” he said. “Traditional remedies could worsen the illness and delay proper treatment.”
He added that “routine immunization, personal hygiene, avoiding overcrowding, and early reporting of suspected cases remain critical preventive measures.”
Dr. Abdulwahab commended the Kano State Government, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusif, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusif, for their leadership and coordination with partners such as NCDC and WHO to strengthen outbreak control, surveillance, and community sensitization across the state.
“Our collaboration with partners like NCDC and WHO continues to enhance early detection and rapid response,” he said. “We remain committed to ensuring that every community in Kano is protected through timely public health interventions.”