The Management of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, has appealed to the public, patients, and hospital visitors to remain calm following the recent management of a clinically suspected diphtheria case at its facility.

​The clarification became necessary following anxiety generated by the admission and subsequent death of a pediatric patient at the hospital’s Children’s Emergency Room (CHER).

​According to a public statement issued by the hospital management, the young patient received full medical intervention upon admission but regrettably passed away two days later despite intensive efforts by the attending medical team.

​However, a subsequent clinical post-mortem review indicated that the severe symptoms may have been caused by severe pharyngotonsillitis with massive exudate, rather than diphtheria as initially suspected.

​Despite the revised clinical assessment, hospital authorities confirmed that comprehensive contact tracing is currently underway as a precautionary measure to monitor anyone who had close contact with the deceased.
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To ensure absolute safety and prevent potential transmission, the hospital management has also completed a standard decontamination exercise of the Children’s Emergency Room in strict compliance with infection prevention and control protocols.

​Reassuring the public of the health institution’s capacity, the management emphasized that UNTH has previously managed and resolved sporadic cases of diphtheria successfully.
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The statement noted that the tertiary health facility possesses the requisite specialist expertise, isolation infrastructure, and medical equipment needed to handle infectious disease cases effectively.

​Addressing broader public health concerns regarding diphtheria across the country, the management advised members of the public to remain vigilant and watch for key symptoms, including persistent fever, severe sore throat, and difficulty in swallowing.

​The hospital urged individuals or parents who notice these symptoms in themselves or their wards to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest certified healthcare facility rather than resorting to self-medication.
​Furthermore, all healthcare workers, patients, and visitors within the hospital premises were advised to consistently observe standard safety measures, including hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, as they carry out their daily routines.

​Reaffirming its commitment, the UNTH leadership assured the public that it will continue to prioritize community safety, safeguard public health, and provide transparent updates based on verified medical data.

The Enugu State Government says there is no confirmed case of diphtheria in the state, urging residents to disapprove unfounded ongoing rumours.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, made the clarification on Wednesday in Enugu while giving an update on the rumoured suspected case of a diphtheria patient at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu.

“In response to this, the Public health and Surveillance unit of the State Ministry of Health are already at alert and to ensure appropriate prevention control measure and early detection as may be necessary.

“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.

“However, the diagnosis of diphtheria could not be sustained or confirmed; while the patient, wito was rumoured and suspected to have diphtheria, had tonsillitis,” he said.

The commissioner noted that accordingly, contact traces and other appropriate measures are ongoing and “yet diphtheria are not diagnosed or confirmed in the state.”

He explained that the suspected patient had been traced to his home in Achara Layout in Enugu and he did not have any record of travel and had not being to the northern part of the country as rumoured.

“Our surveillance and tracing teams have also contacted his family members and others but no trace of diphtheria established,” he said.

Ugwu noted that although the state had remained on high alert against infectious diseases, “Enugu State is never at high risk of contacting diphtheria”.

“For the state, we have a robust routine and mop up vaccination especially on Penta 3, which provides effective immunisation against diphtheria for a whole life time.

“In 2026 Vaccination, we had 91 per cent record of coverage on Penta 3 vaccination, which is even above the national target or threshold,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information as well as seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms of any sickness.

He said, “The ministry is calling on parents and caregivers to ensure children are fully immunised with diphtheria containing vaccines (Penta 3).

“Residents are urged to follow the advice of health authorities during contact tracing and monitoring.

“Healthcare workers are urged to maintain appropriate standard precautions, promptly notify suspected cases through the surveillance system and ensure appropriate 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.

It would be recalled that there was an outbreak of diphtheria in Nigeria and 19,799 suspected cases sent to molecular laboratory test; with 15,309 confirmed cases and 517 confirmed deaths across 26 states and 357 Local Government Areas.

The worst affected states that accounted for over 98 per cent cases of diphtheria were Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Kastina, Sokato, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Diphtheria is a serious but vaccine preventable bacterial disease that can spread though respiratory droplets and close contact.

Symptoms of Diphtheria include: fever, sore throat, difficulty or pain when swallowing, cough, difficulty breathing, swelling of the neck and greyish/white membrane in the throat.

The first of the 15 Agro-mechanisation projects earmarked by the South East Development Commission (SEDC) in all the 15 senatorial zones of the region is set for flag-off, Tuesday.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mark Okoye, made this known during a site and community engagement visit to Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State on Tuesday.

Okoye said the SEDC had, following its establishment in 2024, used the first year to do extensive studies and design a blueprint that cuts across different areas of the South East economy.

The Managing Director said the Agro-mechanisation projects, remained a major part of the blueprint, explaining that it would address insecurity, unemployment, and food security.

“So, what we are here for is one of our flagship initiatives, which is called the South East Agro Mechanisation Programme or the South East Agro Development Programme, where we are committing to develop up to 50,000 hectares of land and that will be used for mechanised farming across the region.

“Essentially we are here for a pre-assessment, pre-flag-off visit to see the area, understand the level of work that needs to be done and ensure that the contractors can start mobilising very quickly so that once we hit the site we start running.

“Because a big part of what we are looking at is how to address food insecurity and unemployment, ensuring that we are producing what we put on the table, we are starting with pilot programmes where we are taking 200 to 300 hectares of farmland across 15 senatorial zones and developing them to standard farms where you not only have cassava, maize, some of our staple crops, but also some cash crops. In some areas, there will be the centres for learning and centres for productivity.

“We will be doing a flag-off and the governor has agreed for next week. So, we just came to assess the area, meet with the community, once again, ensuring that all the plans are in place.

“And the second we put this investment here, at least N4bn or N5 billion of added investment will come in,” he stated.

Okoye commended President Bola Tinubu for addressing the long yearning by the South East for a commission to mobilise resources and coordinate development in the region, urging the people to reciprocate the numerous gestures by supporting the President to continue the development efforts post 2027.

He further revealed that the Commission the SEDC would soon roll ou an investment agency to help mobilise local and diaspora investments for the region’s speedy development.

Media aide to the Governor of Enugu State and a community leader, Uche Anichukwu, counted the Agro-mechanisation project as one of the blessings of the All Progressives Congress, Tinubu and Governor Mbah administrations to Enugu in general and Nomeh Unateze in particularly, citing the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road with a spur to Oduma, which he said, had created ready and multiple access to market for the proposed agricultural project.

Speaking, Chairman, Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka and other community stakeholders, reiterated their support for the project, and commended President Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah for siting the project in their community.

“We are very, very happy. We cannot wait to see it actualised and we promise that we are going to provide everything that is necessary to make sure that this is established to make sure that it.

“The Commission has taken a methodical approach to regional development. Rather than the pitfall of throwing money at development challenges, it undertook a study of the region and came up with a masterplan, which includes this initiative, to reinvent the South East post-civil war,” Anyianuka added.

Also present at the interactive session were the traditional council of Nomeh Unateze and community heads.