‘No Confirmed Diphtheria Case in Enugu – Govt Clarifies

By Venica Uchechukwu, Enugu

The Enugu State Government has said there is no confirmed case of diphtheria in the state, urging residents to disregard rumours and unverified reports concerning an alleged outbreak.

The Commissioner for Health, George Ugwu, made the clarification on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing journalists on the suspected case reported at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla.

Ugwu said the state Ministry of Health had activated its Public Health and Surveillance Unit following the report, adding that surveillance activities were ongoing to ensure appropriate preventive and control measures, as well as early detection, where necessary.

He explained that although a suspected case of diphtheria was reported at UNTH a few days ago, the diagnosis could not be sustained or confirmed.

According to him, the patient at the centre of the report was eventually diagnosed with tonsillitis and not diphtheria.

“Contact tracing and other appropriate measures are ongoing, but diphtheria has not been diagnosed or confirmed in the state,” the commissioner said.

Ugwu disclosed that surveillance officials traced the suspected patient to his residence in Achara Layout, Enugu, adding that investigations showed he had no record of recent travel to the northern part of the country, contrary to reports circulating on social media.

He said the surveillance and contact-tracing teams had also reached out to the patient’s family members and other contacts, but no evidence of diphtheria had been established.

The commissioner, however, said the state remained on high alert against infectious diseases, noting that its routine and mop-up immunisation programmes had helped strengthen protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

He said the state recorded 91 per cent coverage for the Penta 3 vaccination in 2026, which he described as above the national target.

Ugwu urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information, while encouraging anyone who develops symptoms of illness to seek medical attention promptly.

He also called on parents and caregivers to ensure that children are fully immunised with diphtheria-containing vaccines, including the Penta 3 vaccine.

The commissioner further urged residents to cooperate with health authorities during contact tracing and monitoring, while advising healthcare workers to maintain standard precautions, 

Promptly report suspected cases through the surveillance system and adhere to appropriate infection prevention and control measures.

He added that the Enugu State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNTH and relevant international partners, would continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates when necessary.

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 formation of a greyish or whitish membrane in the throat.