Plateau Orders All Schools to Close Today Over Suspected Diphtheria Outbreak
The Plateau State government has directed all public and private primary and secondary schools to close due to suspected diphtheria cases in four local government areas, starting from today, Monday, September 7, 2026.
The temporary closure was announced by the state government as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of children and school staff from potential exposure to the infectious disease.
The order, led by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, is for all schools in the state, including those that had already opened for the new school year.
According to the state government, the suspected diphtheria cases have been reported in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
The schools will remain closed until further notice while the health authorities are stepping up surveillance and response activities in the affected communities.
Parents and guardians have been advised to keep children at home until the precautionary measures are implemented. School owners, administrators and teachers have also been instructed to fully adhere to the closure order.
Diphtheria is a communicable disease that may be transmitted via respiratory droplets and close contact. High-risk settings like schools may pose a higher risk of transmission, so early detection and prevention are important during suspected outbreaks.
The Plateau State Government stated that health workers are conducting contact tracing, vaccination mop-up and decontamination in the areas where suspected cases have been identified.
The measures are designed to reduce the risk of children being exposed as health officials try to contain the suspected outbreak and keep the community safe, the government said.
It also encouraged parents, educators and other stakeholders to work with health officials and adhere to public health recommendations during the time.
