The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu has confirmed the death of a patient diagnosed with diphtheria.
The person died two days after admission despite attempts by medical staff to treat them.
Hospital management disclosed the case in an internal memo to department heads obtained Wednesday.
The patient was treated at the hospital’s Children’s Emergency Room before passing.
Following the death, the hospital began contact tracing and thoroughly decontaminated the emergency ward.
Management told staff there was no cause for alarm, noting that the hospital has successfully managed isolated diphtheria cases in the past.
The development comes as Nigeria grapples with diphtheria concerns in parts of the country.
The disease is highly contagious and caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness.
Hospital management urged staff to stay alert and recognise symptoms including fever, sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Anyone developing such signs should seek immediate medical care.
Staff were instructed to continue following standard safety protocols during their work.
The hospital did not release details about the patient’s identity, age or other specifics.
It also did not say whether any hospital workers or other patients had tested positive for the disease, though contact tracing was underway.
