By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lagos State has swung into emergency action as a deadly diphtheria outbreak grips the prestigious King’s College Victoria Island Annexe, leaving one student dead and 14 others battling symptoms of the highly infectious disease.
The Lagos State Emergency Response Committee has been activated in full force, racing against time to contain the spread and prevent further fatalities.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has assured the public that while the situation is serious, it is under control. However, he urged Lagosians to remain vigilant and take immediate precautions.
The outbreak was first detected on February 22 when a 12-year-old student presented with a sore throat and fever at the school’s health facility.
He was swiftly referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where doctors fought desperately to save his life. He received emergency treatment, including a full dose of diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics.
Despite their efforts, the infection took a devastating turn. The young boy’s heart became inflamed—a deadly complication of diphtheria known as myocarditis. On March 6, after nearly two weeks of battling the infection, he tragically lost his life.
By the time of his passing, the Lagos Emergency Operations Committee had already swung into action, tracking down 34 close contacts of the deceased.
In a chilling development, 14 of them soon began showing symptoms consistent with diphtheria.
Health officials wasted no time. The affected students were rushed to LUTH’s Children’s Emergency Unit, where they underwent urgent medical evaluations.
Of the 14 examined, 12 were confirmed to have developed early-stage diphtheria. They were immediately admitted for intensive treatment, including antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin therapy. Fortunately, all symptomatic students are now responding well to treatment.
In the wake of the outbreak, a team of health officials inspected the King’s College boarding facilities. What they found raised alarms—gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures that needed immediate intervention. Authorities have now ordered urgent upgrades to sanitation and hygiene protocols to prevent further spread.
Determined to stop the outbreak in its tracks, the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with federal health agencies, is rolling out an aggressive vaccination campaign.
Every student—both at the Victoria Island Annexe and the Main School in Igbosere—will be offered booster shots to bolster immunity.
Healthcare workers treating the infected will also receive vaccinations, and officials hint that the campaign could expand statewide.
Lagos currently has nearly 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines in stock, ready to be deployed in high-risk areas as part of the emergency response.
As the government battles to contain the outbreak, health authorities are flooding Lagos with awareness materials to help citizens identify diphtheria symptoms early. Leaflets detailing warning signs—sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and swollen neck glands—are being distributed across hospitals and clinics.
Officials are also preparing a statewide public health announcement, urging residents to prioritize good hygiene, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, and seek medical attention at the first sign of illness.
The gravity of the outbreak has drawn the attention of major health organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) are now working alongside Lagos State to coordinate a powerful, unified response.
The Lagos Emergency Operations Centre is holding daily crisis meetings, strategizing containment measures, and working with the Ministry of Education to ensure school safety protocols are reinforced.
Despite the alarming outbreak, Abayomi has reassured the public that there is no cause for widespread panic.
“Early detection and treatment save lives,” he emphasized. “We are taking all necessary steps to curb this outbreak and protect our communities.”
Diphtheria, a bacterial throat infection, can rapidly lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. The disease attacks the respiratory system and produces a deadly toxin that can cause organ failure, including damage to the heart, lungs, and nerves.
However, health officials stress that diphtheria is preventable with full vaccination, proper hygiene, and early medical intervention.
The Lagos State Government is urging all parents and guardians to ensure their children’s immunisation records are up to date.
