The Lagos State government has confirmed a diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalization of 14 others.
Health authorities have identified 34 close contacts of the deceased student and placed them under observation for monitoring.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, explained that the first case, a 12-year-old boy, developed a sore throat and fever on February 22. He was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for treatment but tragically passed away on March 6 due to myocarditis, a severe complication of diphtheria.
Following his death, 14 other students began showing symptoms and were taken to LUTH for testing. Twelve of them tested positive for early signs of diphtheria and are currently receiving antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin serum. All affected students are reportedly recovering well.
To address the outbreak, the Lagos State government has activated an Emergency Response Committee and plans to launch a mass vaccination campaign targeting schoolchildren and healthcare workers. Nearly 500,000 doses of the diphtheria vaccine will be distributed to high-risk areas, and infection prevention measures will be reinforced at King’s College.
Public awareness campaigns are also being rolled out to educate residents about diphtheria symptoms, which include sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and swollen neck glands. The Lagos State government is collaborating with federal health agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO) to contain the outbreak.
Prof. Abayomi reassured residents that the situation is under control and emphasized the importance of maintaining good hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms arise.
