In a heartbreaking tragedy that has plunged a family into mourning and sent shockwaves across the Hotoron Yan Dodo community in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, four out of five children from a single household have died from diphtheria within the span of two weeks.<\/p>\n
Speaking to DAILY POST, the devastated father of the children, Malam Yusuf Maitama, recounted with tears how his children fell ill one after the other, showing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, nasal discharge, and the appearance of a white membrane in the throat, classic signs of diphtheria. However, the family initially did not recognize the deadly disease.<\/p>\n
The first to fall ill was the youngest child, a girl under five years of age.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe woke up with a fever, sore throat, catarrh, and a visible white substance in her throat,\u201d Malam Yusuf explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just days later, her seven-year-old sister showed similar symptoms. Despite being taken to the hospital, she too passed away within two days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the second child in one week. At first, people even suggested maybe it was spiritual. But doctors confirmed it was diphtheria. That\u2019s when I realized the rest of my kids were at serious risk,\u201d he said in tears.<\/p>\n
According to Malam Yusuf, the other three children were also tested and all three were found to be infected, two more died. The eldest daughter survived after receiving urgent medical attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe third victim passed away seven days after her sisters. She had already been admitted to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where doctors said one of her kidneys was failing. But due to a lack of available hospital beds, we had to take her home temporarily. She died that very night,\u201d he said, emotionally drained.<\/p>\n
Malam Yusuf couldn\u2019t tell us the names of his children due to the deep distress he\u2019s in as it was just two days since the passing of the last child \u2014 the fourth. The family is still in mourning, and this is his first interview with any media outlet since the tragedy occurred.<\/p>\n
Now, fear and sorrow have gripped not just Malam Yusuf\u2019s household, but the entire community. Residents, particularly those with young children, live in anxiety. Some Health <\/a>officials have since visited the area, fumigated the house, and administered vaccinations to other children in the vicinity.<\/p>\n This is not the first time diphtheria has had a devastated effect on a single family in Kano. In 2024, three children from one family in Gaida, Kumbotso LGA, died of the disease within one week.<\/p>\n Following this, DAILY POST contacted the Kano State Ministry of Health <\/a>and requested an update on the government\u2019s response to the virulent infection.<\/p>\n Spokesperson, Nablusi Abubakar Kofar Naisa confirmed that most of the children dying from diphtheria had not been vaccinated.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you hear of a death, it\u2019s likely the child was not vaccinated. That\u2019s the main issue we\u2019re dealing with. This is why we urge parents to take their children for free immunization \u2014 it doesn\u2019t cost a thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kano government is making every effort to combat this disease, including designating a special hospital specifically for treating children affected by it. In addition, all other hospitals are also attending to patients with this condition, conducting tests, and providing free treatment. Vaccinations are also ongoing in these hospitals,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Despite ongoing efforts from Health <\/a>authorities, diphtheria remains a major threat to children\u2019s lives in Kano, one of the most affected States in Nigeria.<\/p>\n In 2023, the Kano State government announced an outbreak of diphtheria, with over 10,000 children infected and nearly 1,000 deaths recorded. Since then, the battle against the disease has continued \u2014 sometimes it subsides, and other times it resurges, due to factors like weather conditions and lack of adequate vaccination.<\/p>\n Vaccine-preventable diseases like diphtheria continue to claim lives in Kano \u2014 not due to a lack of solutions, but because of delayed hospital visits, cultural beliefs, and weak healthcare infrastructure.<\/p>\n A recent study published by the National Library of Medicine in July 2025 revealed a Diptheria case fatality rate of 4.5%. The study found that unvaccinated patients had more than double the risk of dying compared to those fully vaccinated. Patients without vaccination records had an 87% increased risk of death.<\/p>\n As Kano mourns yet another diphtheria tragedy, Health <\/a>authorities call on parents to take their children for vaccination and to immediately take them to the hospital at the first signs of symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, swollen throat, or difficulty in breathing.\u00a0<\/p>\n These are the ways their children can be saved from death.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n