Imo shuts schools as diphtheria claims children’s lives in Aboh Mbaise community

A diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has led to the deaths of several children, prompting an indefinite closure of schools in the area

The exact number of fatalities remains unconfirmed, but the chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the development in a statement on May 26, 2025.

Diphtheria, a highly infectious disease caused by the toxin-producing bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, primarily affects the nose and throat but can also impact the skin.

It spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, or via direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.

In response to the outbreak, the local government has taken swift action to curb further spread.

Schools in Mbutu have been temporarily closed, and parents have been advised to keep their children indoors.

“Diphtheria claimed the lives of the children less than a week after its outbreak.

“The chairman stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Imo State Ministry of Health, and health workers from Aboh Mbaise LGA were working tirelessly to investigate and contain the outbreak.

“An isolation centre has been established at Mbutu Health Centre, with health workers deployed to quarantine children who may have been exposed to the disease and to provide care for affected families,” Godspower Dike, the spokesman for the chairman said in the statement.

Alaribe also urged parents to take urgent steps to vaccinate their children.