At least 10 people have been confirmed dead out of 91 cases of Diphtheria disease recorded in 14 Local Government Areas of Jigawa State, an official of the state Ministry of Health has disclosed. Diphtheria is an acute and highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat which hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. It strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.