Oyo Government Denies Diphtheria Outbreak Claims, Says No Cases Confirmed

The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that diphtheria is affecting several local government areas in the state, insisting that no case has been confirmed.

The Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday.

He said the Ministry of Health’s Diphtheria Outbreak Surveillance Update for Epidemiological Week 40 of 2026 recorded suspected cases in 10 local government areas, but none had been confirmed.

The campaign organisation had listed 16 local government areas as affected, a claim the government described as inconsistent with official surveillance data.

Despite the absence of confirmed cases, the government said it had activated response measures to manage suspected infections and prevent a possible outbreak.

It said the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre had procured antibiotics and requested additional supplies of diphtheria antitoxin. Rapid response teams had also been activated, while suspected cases were being isolated and treated at the Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo.

The government also disputed the campaign organisation’s claims that Oyo ranked lowest in childhood immunisation coverage in the South-West.

According to Olanrewaju, data from the 2025–2026 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed that the state’s basic antigen coverage was at the regional average, while coverage under the full national immunisation schedule exceeded the South-West average.

The government further defended its participation in the World Bank-supported Immunisation Plus component of the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project.

It said funds received under the programme had been used for their intended purposes and maintained that allegations of mismanagement should be supported by specific evidence.

The government also said financial and implementation reports for the project were subject to established audit and disclosure procedures, adding that the Ministry of Health welcomed scrutiny through appropriate channels.

It reaffirmed its commitment to responding promptly to suspected cases, strengthening surveillance and protecting children through vaccination.