Plateau Shuts All Schools as Diphtheria Outbreak Claims 23 Lives

The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state following growing concerns over a diphtheria outbreak.

The directive, which takes effect on Monday, September 7, 2026, applies to schools that have already resumed academic activities, with all institutions directed to remain closed until further notice.

The decision comes after suspected diphtheria cases were reported in Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase Local Government Areas, prompting the state government to take urgent measures to reduce the risk of further transmission.

The directive was issued under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang and announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap.

The government directed school proprietors, administrators and teachers to comply with the closure order, while parents and guardians were urged to ensure that their children and wards remain at home throughout the period.

Officials said the measure is aimed at protecting pupils, students, teachers and other school workers as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the suspected outbreak.

The development follows an alarming update from the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, who said about 23 people had died from suspected diphtheria complications in the state. He also reported a significant number of suspected cases and said patients were receiving treatment at health facilities.

Health authorities have activated surveillance and response teams in the affected communities as they work to identify suspected cases and limit further spread.

The situation has also exposed challenges in the state’s response, including reported shortages of diphtheria antitoxin and difficulties with laboratory testing because of inadequate specialised materials for collecting and transporting samples.

The state government is expected to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities as efforts continue to contain the outbreak and provide the necessary medical supplies.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact. The disease can cause severe throat and breathing problems and may lead to complications affecting the heart, nerves and other organs if not treated promptly.

The decision to close schools reflects the concern that classrooms and other crowded environments could increase the opportunity for transmission, particularly among children who spend several hours together each day.

The government has therefore chosen to suspend academic activities across the state while health officials continue surveillance and other containment measures.

The closure also affects private schools, meaning proprietors cannot continue academic activities simply because their institutions are privately owned.

Parents have been urged to take the directive seriously and keep their children at home until the government provides further information on when schools can safely reopen.

The Plateau Government said additional information concerning the resumption of academic activities would be communicated to the public in due course.

The school shutdown comes as the wider diphtheria situation in Nigeria remains a concern, with Plateau among the states affected by the disease.

For now, the priority for the state is to prevent further infections, identify suspected cases quickly and ensure that affected patients receive appropriate treatment.

The government has appealed for the cooperation of parents, schools, health workers and other stakeholders as it works to bring the outbreak under control.

With schools across Plateau State now ordered to close from September 7, authorities face the task of balancing the disruption to education with the need to protect children and staff from a potentially deadly but vaccine-preventable disease.

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