By DAVID ADEOYE

The Oyo State Government has debunked reports of a diphtheria outbreak in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, debunked the report in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday, saying there is currently no confirmed case.

Ajetunmobi described the report claiming that the disease had spread to several Local Government Areas (LGAs) as false and capable of causing public panic.

According to the commissioner, official figures from the Ministry of Health’s Diphtheria Outbreak Surveillance Update for Epidemiological Week 40, 2026, show suspected cases in only 10 LGAs, with no case confirmed.

She said “Despite having no confirmed case, the ministry has activated preparedness measures.

“This includes procurement of antibiotics, request for buffer stock of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), activation of rapid response teams under the 7-1-7 framework, and isolation and treatment of suspected cases at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo in Ibadan.”

She assured residents that the state government would continue to respond to suspected cases and provide accurate and evidence-based information.

The commissioner equally refuted claims that the state ranks last in the childhood immunisation coverage in the South-West.

She described the report linking the state’s participation in the Immunization Plus component of the IMPACT Project to failure, as misleading. (NAN)