A family in Hotoron Yan Dodo community, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, has been thrown into mourning after four of five children from the household died of diphtheria within two weeks.
The grieving father, Malam Yusuf Maitama, recounted how the tragedy unfolded when his children began to fall ill one after another, showing symptoms of fever, sore throat, nasal discharge, and a white membrane in the throat. Unaware that the illness was diphtheria, the family initially treated the symptoms at home.
The youngest child, under five, was the first victim.
She died the same day she was taken to the hospital. Days later, her seven-year-old sister developed similar symptoms and passed away within 48 hours.
“That was the second child in one week.
At first, people thought it was spiritual, but doctors confirmed it was diphtheria. That’s when I realized the rest of my kids were at serious risk,” Maitama said.
The remaining three children were tested, and all were found positive. Two of them later died, while the eldest survived after urgent medical care.
The third victim died after being discharged from the hospital due to a lack of bed space.
The fourth passed away just two days before Maitama’s interview, leaving the family devastated.
The tragedy has cast a pall of fear over the community, with health officials moving in to fumigate the family home and administer vaccines to children in the neighborhood.
This is not the first time Kano has witnessed such a loss.
In 2024, three children from a single family in Gaida, Kumbotso LGA, died of diphtheria within one week.
Responding to the latest incident, spokesperson for the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nablusi Abubakar Kofar Naisa, said most deaths occur among unvaccinated children.
“If you hear of a death, it’s likely the child was not vaccinated.
That’s the main issue. We urge parents to take their children for free immunization — it doesn’t cost anything,” he said.
He added that the state government has designated a special hospital for treating affected children, while other facilities have also been directed to provide free testing and treatment, alongside ongoing vaccination efforts.