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Mogadishu (HOL) – Somalia is facing a growing diphtheria crisis, with at least 50 deaths and more than 1,000 children infected in recent weeks, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The Ministry warned that the outbreak is spreading rapidly across several regions, and children between the ages of 5 and 15 are the most affected.
Diphtheria is a dangerous bacterial disease that can spread easily, especially in crowded communities and areas with low vaccination rates. The Ministry said the current situation shows how vulnerable many children remain, as most of the newly infected had no previous vaccination history.
To contain the outbreak, the Ministry of Health has launched an emergency vaccination campaign in the Banadir region. The campaign will begin on Monday, December 15, 2025, and will run for five days. Health workers will vaccinate children in neighbourhoods, health centres and schools to ensure as many young people as possible are reached. Parents and guardians are being urged to take the campaign seriously and make sure their children receive the lifesaving vaccine.
National data collected between 1 January and 30 November 2025 shows the severity of the situation. During this period, 3,267 diphtheria cases were reported across health facilities, with 136 deaths—giving a national case fatality rate of around 4 percent. Among the reported cases, 1,281 children were under the age of five, and 71 percent of all patients had never been vaccinated against diphtheria. Health officials also confirmed that 17 cases were verified through rt-PCR testing, and 22 deaths occurred within communities before patients could reach healthcare centres.
The Ministry explained that this outbreak is not new but rather a continuation of the 2023 diphtheria outbreak, which has never fully stopped. Transmission has remained active in many districts, often affecting families living in overcrowded or informal settlements where access to immunisation remains limited.
Different regions of the country are experiencing varying levels of impact. In the Banadir region, the outbreak began in 2023 and has continued for two years. Between week 1 and week 48 of 2025 alone, Banadir recorded 1,361 cases and 73 deaths. Many of these infections occurred among displaced communities in districts such as Daynile, Yaqshid and Karan, where living conditions make it hard to control the spread of infectious diseases.
Puntland is also facing significant challenges. The outbreak there began in September 2023 and has continued steadily. From January to late November 2025, Puntland reported 1,191 cases and 40 deaths. The worst-affected districts are Galkayo, which has recorded 569 cases and 11 deaths, and Garowe, with 357 cases and 10 deaths. Health officials in Puntland say limited vaccination coverage and population movement between districts are contributing to the spread.
In Galmudug, the outbreak first appeared among displaced families in the Galkayo district in 2023 before spreading to other areas. From week 1 to week 48 of this year, the region recorded 280 cases and 8 deaths. Most infections were reported in Galkayo, Guriel and Hobyo, areas that continue to struggle with population displacement and fragile health systems.
Southwest State saw the outbreak begin in 2025, with cases rising sharply earlier in the year. The region recorded a peak of 20 cases in April before the numbers began to slowly decline. Between January and late November, Southwest State reported 322 cases and 4 deaths, mostly among displaced families in Burhakaba and Baidoa.
Health officials say vaccination remains the most effective way to protect children and stop the spread of diphtheria. The Ministry is calling on communities, local leaders and parents to support the vaccination efforts and help prevent more deaths.