Diphtheria Outbreak in Imo Community Claims Children’s Lives, Forces School Closures

A diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has led to the deaths of several children, triggering the immediate closure of schools in the area. The exact number of fatalities has yet to be confirmed.

Iheukwumere Alaribe, Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, confirmed the outbreak in a statement issued on May 26, 2025.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It primarily affects the nose and throat but can also involve the skin. The disease spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with infected individuals and contaminated surfaces.

In response, the local government has swiftly shut down schools in Mbutu and advised parents to keep their children indoors to limit further spread.

“Diphtheria claimed the lives of the children less than a week after its outbreak,” Alaribe said.

Health authorities are now intensifying efforts to contain the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Imo State Ministry of Health, and local health workers are working closely to investigate and manage the outbreak.

An isolation centre has been set up at the Mbutu Health Centre. According to the chairman’s spokesman, Godspower Dike, medical personnel have been deployed to quarantine exposed children and care for affected families.

Alaribe has also called on parents to act swiftly by ensuring their children are vaccinated against the disease.