The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, has clarified that the state has no confirmed case of diphtheria, following reports of a suspected case at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu.
Ugwu said the suspected case was investigated by relevant health authorities, but tests and clinical assessment did not confirm diphtheria. The patient was instead suspected to have tonsillitis.
The Commissioner, in a statement, assured residents that the Ministry of Health remains vigilant and has strengthened its surveillance mechanisms to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected case.
He said the ministry’s Public Health and Surveillance Unit remains on alert while urging residents to remain calm and refrain from spreading rumours or unverified information.
Ugwu advised anyone experiencing symptoms including fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, cough, difficulty breathing, neck swelling or a greyish-white membrane in the throat to seek medical attention promptly.
He also urged parents and guardians to ensure that children are fully immunised with diphtheria-containing vaccines, including the pentavalent vaccine.
The Commissioner called on healthcare workers to promptly report suspected cases and maintain appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium bacteria, which can produce a toxin capable of affecting the throat, heart, nerves, kidneys and other organs. The disease is vaccine-preventable and can spread through respiratory droplets as well as contact with infected sores or contaminated objects.
The clarification comes amid reports of confirmed diphtheria cases in several states across Nigeria, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, identifying Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara among states accounting for a significant proportion of confirmed cases.
The Enugu State Government has therefore urged residents to rely on verified information from health authorities and continue to adhere to recommended immunisation and disease-prevention measures.
