UNICEF Niger Diphtheria Flash Update No. 1: 10 November 2023 – Niger

Highlights

• On 20 October 2023, the Government of Niger, through the Ministry of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, declared a diphtheria outbreak.

• The first case was registered on 17 July 2023. As of 02 November, all eight regions of the country have notified at least 1 case of diphtheria. A total of 1,838 suspected cases of diphtheria, including 91 deaths (lethality: 5%), have been reported.

• The regions of Zinder (1,578 cases) and Agadez (132 cases) are the most impacted, contributing to 86% and 7% of the total caseload, respectively.

• 47% of positive cases are among children aged 5 to 14 years, 22% of positive cases are aged 12 to 59 months, 2.5% of positive cases are less than 1 year old and about 28.5% are aged 15 and above.

• Since the onset of the outbreak, UNICEF has initiated its response in support of and partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and other partners involved in the response. To date, 50,000 children aged 0 to 14 years have already been vaccinated.

UNICEF ’s Response

Since the beginning of the outbreak, UNICEF has been supporting the preparedness and response efforts through multisectoral and integrated approaches, with a focus on Zinder region, where 86% of the total number of cases have occurred.

Health

• UNICEF has launched a joint initiative with the Ministry of Public Health to combat the spread of the disease.

• In line with the national response plan developed with the support of UNICEF, provision of medical supplies (Azithromycin) to support the treatment of 5,000 people in the most affected health districts (HDs) of Maradi and Zinder regions.

• Ongoing technical support to strengthen the routine vaccination programme for catching up the vaccination of children aged 0 to 23 months, including mechanisms for locating those who have been lost in the follow-up.

• Technical and logistical support for the vaccination response in the health sites of Kantche and Amsoudou, in collaboration with Médecins sans frontières (MSF) Switzerland. 50,000 children aged 0 to 14 years have been vaccinated.

• Support for the mid-November vaccination campaign targeting a total of 291,218 individuals (174,585 children aged 0 to 7 years and 116,633 children aged 8 to 14 years) in the most heavily affected HDs.

• Capacity building of 68 healthcare workers across 42 health centres in the Matameye Health District (20) and Mirriah Health District (22) within Zinder region. This training focuses on the identification and treatment of diphtheria cases in collaboration with the MSF Switzerland team.

• Delivery of three tents to establish a second treatment site in the Matameye Health District (Zinder region).

• UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health in its coordination efforts by strengthening the coordination mechanism involving all sectors and technical and financial partners in the response.