The Enugu State Government has said there is no confirmed case of diphtheria in the state, urging residents to disregard rumours and avoid spreading unverified information about the suspected case reported at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu.
Key Highlights:
- Enugu Government says there is no confirmed case of diphtheria in the state.
- Suspected patient at UNTH was diagnosed with tonsillitis, not diphtheria, according to the government.
- Health authorities have continued contact tracing and surveillance.
- Government says the suspected patient had no recent travel history to northern Nigeria.
- Enugu recorded 91 per cent coverage for the Penta 3 vaccine in 2026, according to the Commissioner for Health.
- Residents are urged to ensure children receive diphtheria-containing vaccines.
- Health workers have been directed to maintain appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
Enugu Govt Clarifies Suspected Diphtheria Case
The Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, made the clarification on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing journalists on the rumoured suspected case of diphtheria at UNTH.
Ugwu said the state’s Public Health and Surveillance Unit had been placed on alert and was taking appropriate preventive and control measures.
“A few days ago, there was a report of suspected case of diphtheria at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, which was followed by our team,” the commissioner said.
“However, the diagnosis of diphtheria could not be sustained or confirmed, while the patient who was rumoured and suspected to have diphtheria had tonsillitis.”
He said contact tracing and other appropriate surveillance measures were ongoing, but no case of diphtheria had been diagnosed or confirmed in the state.
Contact Tracing Underway
Ugwu said the suspected patient had been traced to his residence in Achara Layout, Enugu, and had no record of recent travel.
He also dismissed reports that the patient had travelled to the northern part of the country.
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“Our surveillance and tracing teams have also contacted his family members and others but no trace of diphtheria established,” he said.
The commissioner said the state remained on alert against infectious diseases but maintained that the suspected case had not been confirmed as diphtheria.
Enugu Reports 91% Penta 3 Coverage
Ugwu said the state had continued to implement routine and mop-up vaccination programmes, particularly the Penta 3 vaccine, which protects children against diphtheria among other diseases.
He said Enugu recorded 91 per cent Penta 3 vaccination coverage in 2026, which he described as above the national target.
The commissioner urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children are fully immunised with diphtheria-containing vaccines.
Health Ministry Urges Residents to Remain Calm
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.
He also advised residents to seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms of illness.
“The ministry is calling on parents and caregivers to ensure children are fully immunised with diphtheria-containing vaccines (Penta 3),” Ugwu said.
“Residents are urged to follow the advice of health authorities during contact tracing and monitoring.”
He also urged healthcare workers to maintain appropriate standard precautions, promptly notify suspected cases through the surveillance system and ensure proper infection prevention and control measures.
“The Enugu State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNTH and relevant international partners, continues to monitor the situation and will be proactive for further information as necessary,” he added.
Diphtheria Remains a Public Health Concern
The clarification comes against the backdrop of the wider diphtheria outbreak reported in Nigeria.
According to figures cited in the statement, 19,799 suspected cases had been sent for molecular laboratory testing, with 15,309 confirmed cases and 517 confirmed deaths reported across 26 states and 357 Local Government Areas.
The states identified as accounting for the majority of reported diphtheria cases include Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau.
Diphtheria is a serious but vaccine-preventable bacterial disease that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact.
Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, difficulty or pain when swallowing, cough, difficulty breathing, swelling of the neck and the development of a greyish-white membrane in the throat.
