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Should I be worried about Diphtheria outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa?

Updated · Graded from official assessments; nothing here is medical advice.

Diphtheria outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa · high

If you are in the affected area high
WHO’s African Region outbreak notice assessed the risk in affected countries as high on 21 November 2025. According to WHO
If you are elsewhere in the same country or region high
WHO’s African Region outbreak notice assessed the risk in affected countries as high on 21 November 2025. According to WHO
If you are travelling there soon low
US CDC’s Level 1 travel notice for sub-Saharan Africa said on 25 August 2026 that there are diphtheria outbreaks in several African countries and that vaccination against diphtheria is essential. According to US CDC
If you are elsewhere in the world high
WHO assessed the global risk as high in its African Region outbreak notice on 21 November 2025. According to WHO

What is happening

Diphtheria is still being reported across parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and WHO said several countries had ongoing outbreaks dating back to 2023. The latest directly retrieved official multi-country statement is WHO’s African Region notice of 21 November 2025, which reported 20,412 suspected cases and 1,252 deaths across eight countries through 2 November 2025. For 2026, directly retrieved official material remains incomplete, but Nigeria’s NCDC sitrep index shows continuing diphtheria updates and South Africa’s NICD reported 43 confirmed cases nationally by week 41. More recent 2026 local reports citing authorities describe 469 suspected cases and 31 deaths in Plateau State in late September, 2 deaths and 5 hospitalisations in the Federal Capital Territory in early October, and 4 suspected cases and 1 death in Niger State in mid-October, but those figures are unverified here. Officials say the response includes vaccination, case management with diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics, antibiotic prophylaxis for contacts, surveillance and laboratory support, while local Nigerian reporting also mentions hospital care for severe cases and school-related measures in Zamfara.

Who is affected and how it spreads

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that usually spreads from person to person through close contact and respiratory droplets. WHO outbreak notices say recent African outbreaks have affected mainly children, especially children under 15, and also young adults. It is preventable with diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines, but outbreaks still happen where routine immunization is weak or disrupted. Severe illness can form a thick coating in the throat that blocks breathing, and the toxin can damage the heart and nerves.

What officials advise

What we are watching

Updates

Sources