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. 2014 Apr;142(4):797-802.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268813001696. Epub 2013 Jul 18.

Diphtheria outbreak with high mortality in northeastern Nigeria

N C Besa  1 , M E Coldiron  1 , A Bakri  2 , A Raji  2 , M J Nsuami  3 , C Rousseau  4 , N Hurtado  5 , K Porten  1
Affiliations

Diphtheria outbreak with high mortality in northeastern Nigeria

N C Besa et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

SUMMARY A diphtheria outbreak occurred from February to November 2011 in the village of Kimba and its surrounding settlements, in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. We conducted a retrospective outbreak investigation in Kimba village and the surrounding settlements to better describe the extent and clinical characteristics of this outbreak. Ninety-eight cases met the criteria of the case definition of diphtheria, 63 (64.3%) of whom were children aged <10 years; 98% of cases had never been immunized against diphtheria. None of the 98 cases received diphtheria antitoxin, penicillin, or erythromycin during their illness. The overall case-fatality ratio was 21.4%, and was highest in children aged 0-4 years (42.9%). Low rates of immunization, delayed clinical recognition of diphtheria and absence of treatment with antitoxin and appropriate antibiotics contributed to this epidemic and its severity.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Probable and confirmed diphtheria cases by geographical origin and epidemiological week, Kimba, Borno State, Nigeria, February–December, 2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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