The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, has urged the public to continue accessing healthcare services without fear of contracting diphtheria, assuring them the situation remains under control.

Boniface Uchelue, the hospital’s spokesman, made the appeal in an interview on Thursday in Enugu.

Mr Uchelue said the situation at the hospital remained calm, with normal clinical activities continuing without interruption, and assured the public there was no cause for alarm.

He explained that the condition initially suspected to be diphtheria was later identified, following a post-mortem clinical review, as severe pharyngotonsillitis with massive exudate, easing concern about a diphtheria case.

“Everywhere is calm and normal, and activities are going on. Patients are coming, and health workers are administering uninterrupted care. What was reported was a misrepresentation of another diagnosis that had similar manifestations to diphtheria,” he said.

Mr Uchelue, however, said the hospital had taken precautionary measures by placing people who had contact with the patient on prophylaxis to prevent possible infection, while reassuring the public that the hospital was being careful and vigilant.

He added that contact tracing was also ongoing, noting that the hospital was taking necessary precautions to guard against any possible infectious disease outbreak and to keep the situation under control.

Mr Uchelue clarified that the patient did not come from the northern part of the country, as widely speculated, but from Lagos. He said the hospital had continued to provide uninterrupted services, with doctors, nurses and medical students carrying out their normal duties, reassuring patients that care was ongoing as usual.

“There is no cause for panic. People should come into the hospital and access healthcare. We were there today and saw nurses, doctors and medical students working, while patients were coming in and being attended to,” he said.

Mr Uchelue said UNTH had the capacity to manage diphtheria or any other medical emergency should a confirmed case emerge, and that the hospital was prepared to respond effectively. He said the hospital had previously handled similar medical emergencies and had the necessary personnel and resources to respond effectively.

Mr Uchelue assured the public that hospital management, under its chief medical director, Obinna Onodugo, could manage any health emergency that might arise.

(NAN)