A deadly diphtheria outbreak has struck King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, claiming the life of a 12-year-old student and hospitalising 14 others.
The Lagos State government has swiftly activated an emergency response, identified 34 close contacts of the deceased, and launched a mass vaccination campaign to contain the spread of the infection.
According to Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the outbreak began when a 12-year-old student developed a sore throat and fever on February 22.
The student was initially treated at the school’s health facility before being referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he was admitted to the pediatric emergency ward.
Despite receiving antibiotics and a full dose of diphtheria toxoid serum, he succumbed to myocarditis, a severe and recognized complication of the disease, on March 6.
“Despite the timely intervention, the boy succumbed to progressive and irreversible inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), caused by the bacterial toxin,” Prof. Abayomi confirmed.
In the wake of his death, 34 individuals identified as close contacts of the student were placed under close medical observation. Fourteen of them later developed symptoms consistent with diphtheria and were rushed to LUTH’s Children’s Emergency Unit. Medical tests confirmed early signs of the disease in 12 students, who were immediately placed on antibiotic treatment and given diphtheria antitoxin serum.
With concerns over a potential outbreak in schools, the Lagos State government has taken immediate action. An emergency response committee has been activated to coordinate containment efforts, while a preliminary inspection of King’s College Annexe revealed gaps in infection prevention and control measures, prompting urgent improvements.
To boost immunity and prevent further infections, a mass vaccination campaign will begin on Monday. The campaign will cover all consenting students at both the Victoria Island Annexe and the main school in Igbosere, with the possibility of a wider statewide rollout.
The Lagos State government has confirmed that nearly 500,000 doses of the diphtheria vaccine are available and will be deployed strategically to high-risk areas.
To ensure the public remains informed, health authorities are distributing information leaflets at healthcare facilities, detailing diphtheria symptoms, prevention strategies, and early treatment options. A public health announcement is also being prepared to educate residents on the dangers of diphtheria and the importance of seeking medical attention for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, breathing difficulties, and swollen neck glands.
Prof. Abayomi assured Lagos residents that the outbreak is being managed effectively, urging them to remain calm and follow health guidelines.
“Early detection and treatment can save lives. Let’s work together to curb this outbreak and protect our communities,” he advised.
He further reassured the public, stating, “The outbreak is under control, and there is no need to panic. We remain committed to ongoing measures to safeguard residents from infectious diseases.”
The Lagos State government is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to ensure a coordinated response.
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been tasked with holding daily meetings to monitor the situation and implement necessary policy changes.
