By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A diphtheria outbreak has been reported at King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, Lagos, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old student, the Lagos State Government has confirmed.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, 34 close contacts of the deceased student have been placed under observation, with 14 exhibiting symptoms consistent with diphtheria.
The infected students have been transferred to the Children’s Emergency Unit at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for screening and treatment.
Fortunately, all 14 symptomatic students are currently recovering.
To contain the outbreak, the Lagos State Government has activated an Emergency Response Committee and will commence a mass vaccination exercise for schoolchildren today.
“The Lagos State Government is taking all necessary measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission,” Abayomi said.
“We urge residents to remain calm and to prioritize good hygiene, avoid crowded environments, and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing diphtheria-like symptoms.”
The government has also identified gaps in infection prevention and control measures at the school, which will be addressed immediately.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the throat, leading to inflammation, fever, swollen neck glands, and breathing difficulties.
The disease is preventable through full vaccination, good hygiene practices, avoiding poorly ventilated crowded spaces, and timely medical intervention with antibiotics and antitoxin serum to neutralize the bacterial toxin.
The Lagos State Government has assured residents that it is working closely with federal health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to coordinate an effective response to the outbreak.
