Diphtheria and School Closures in Plateau State: Strengthening School Health Preparedness Beyond the Immediate Outbreak

"Before schools reopen, attention should also be given to strengthening infection prevention practices, appropriate risk assessment, clear pathways for referral of suspected cases, access to reliable health information, and preparedness among school personnel."

The Plateau State Government has announced the temporary closure of public and private primary and secondary schools across the State from 7 September 2026 following reports of suspected diphtheria cases in Jos North, Jos South, Wase and Bassa Local Government Areas.

The precautionary measure places the safety of learners, teachers and other school personnel at the centre of the response. It also presents an important opportunity to reflect on how prepared our schools are to prevent, identify and respond to infectious disease threats.

What Families Should Know

Diphtheria is a potentially serious bacterial infection that commonly affects the nose and throat and can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact.

Parents and caregivers should be alert to symptoms including fever, sore throat, swollen neck glands, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and greyish or whitish patches in the throat. Anyone with suspected symptoms should receive prompt medical assessment rather than relying on self-medication.

Vaccination remains an important means of preventing diphtheria. Parents and caregivers should therefore check children's vaccination status and follow guidance from the relevant health authorities regarding routine or catch-up vaccination.

Beyond School Closure: Building Safer Schools

Temporary school closure may help reduce opportunities for transmission, but protecting learners requires more than an emergency response.

Before schools reopen, attention should also be given to strengthening infection prevention practices, appropriate risk assessment, clear pathways for referral of suspected cases, access to reliable health information, and preparedness among school personnel.

Teachers have a particularly important role. They interact with learners every day and may be among the first adults to notice when a child becomes unwell. They are not expected to diagnose disease, but basic school-health training can help them recognise warning signs, take appropriate initial action and know when and where to refer a learner.

This reinforces the importance of teacher capacity building as a core component of school health.

An Opportunity to Strengthen School Health Systems

The current situation provides an opportunity not only to respond to diphtheria, but also to strengthen longer-term preparedness for other health threats that can disrupt children's health, wellbeing and education.

Schools need practical systems that connect the education and health sectors, with teachers, parents, healthcare providers and government institutions understanding their respective roles.

Maden Healthcare Foundation (MADEN), through its Healthy Schools Programme, continues to advocate for stronger school-health systems in which prevention, early recognition, health education, appropriate referral and teacher capacity building are integrated into the school environment.

MADEN stands ready to collaborate with relevant government authorities and partners in Plateau State in health education, risk communication, teacher capacity building and other appropriate school-health interventions that can contribute to a safe return to learning.

The immediate priority is protecting children. The longer-term opportunity is ensuring that our schools emerge safer, healthier and better prepared for future public-health threats.

Maden Healthcare Foundation: Beyond healthcare… administering love

Maden Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit organisation advancing school health, menstrual health and community health in Nigeria.