By Ayodele Oni
Kano state government has stepped up investigation as a family in Danbare New Layout, Kumbotso Local Government Area of the State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of five children within seven days from an illness suspected to be diphtheria.
The children, three girls and two boys, reportedly died between October 1 and October 7, 2026, leaving their father, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, and other family members devastated
According to family, sources, the tragedy began on October 1, when two children, a boy and a girl, died after battling the suspected infection.
The situation worsened on October 7, when three more children, two girls and a boy, died.
The deaths have raised concerns about possible transmission within the household and the wider Danbare community.
Reacting, the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, KNCDC, Prof Muhammad Adamu Abbas, promised to investigate the matter and establish circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
Prof. Abbas urged residents to promptly report suspected infectious diseases to the nearest health facility rather than managing suspected cases at home.
He stressed the importance of early reporting, detection and treatment in preventing deaths and containing spread of diseases such as diphtheria.
The bereaved father, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, appealed to health authorities to urgently intervene, investigate the deaths and establish the exact cause, and to protect surviving family members and other residents from potential transmission.
As of press time, the link between the deaths and diphtheria has not been independently confirmed by health authorities.
The development comes weeks after the Kano State Government in September commenced a diphtheria immunisation campaign across five local government areas — Kumbotso, Dala, Fagge, Gwale and Ungoggo — to curb transmission and enhance protection among vulnerable populations.
The KNCDC has also continued community mobilisation, urging traditional institutions and residents to support vaccination and report suspected cases without delay.
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