The Kano State House of Assembly has called on Governor Abba Yusuf to urgently intervene in a diphtheria outbreak in Rano Local Government Area, where more than 50 children have reportedly died.
The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ibrahim Muhammad, representing Rano constituency.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species that primarily affects the nose and throat and can sometimes affect the skin. Symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, swelling of the neck and difficulty breathing.
While presenting the motion, Muhammad said the outbreak had become severe in the Ridin and Sabuwar Kaura communities of Rano LGA, resulting in the deaths of over 50 children.
“Although emergency measures had been taken, including the purchase of medication and deployment of health workers to the affected communities, further intervention is needed to contain the outbreak,” Muhammad said.
He appealed to the state government to provide additional emergency assistance to the affected communities, recalling that a previous outbreak in 2025 had also claimed several lives in the area.
“We want to inform the governor and the commissioner for health to send further emergency aid to the region because the disease has spread heavily in that area,” Muhammed said.
Supporting the motion, Usman Tasiu, representing Kiru constituency, said the outbreak had spread beyond Rano into parts of Kiru, including Kwarin Dangora, Dangora town and Yelwa.
Tasiu disclosed that an APC youth leader in Kiru town lost two children to the disease within a single day.
He called for the creation of an emergency committee to coordinate efforts to contain the outbreak across the affected LGAs, including Rano, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Bunkure, Bebeji and Kiru.
Saleh Ahmad, representing Dawakin Tofa, urged the government to intensify vaccination and other preventive measures, warning that diphtheria is contagious and can spread rapidly to neighbouring communities.
Lawan Husseini, the majority leader, called on the state government to activate the state’s health protection law to tackle the outbreak.
He noted that the legislation empowers the government to provide emergency relief and free healthcare, while also allowing authorities to isolate affected areas and restrict movement where necessary during infectious disease outbreaks.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion after Speaker Ismail Falgore subjected it to a voice vote.