Lagos State has confirmed a diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, which has tragically claimed the life of a 12-year-old student and left 14 others hospitalized. The incident has sent shockwaves through the elite academic community, prompting an urgent government response to curb further spread of the highly infectious bacterial disease.
Following the fatality, health officials swiftly identified 34 close contacts of the deceased student and placed them under strict medical surveillance. The Lagos State government, in a bid to avert a full-blown epidemic, has activated an Emergency Response Committee and set Monday as the start date for a mass vaccination drive targeting schoolchildren.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has urged the public to remain calm, assuring that rigorous containment measures are already in motion.
According to Abayomi, the index case involved a 12-year-old boy who first presented with a sore throat and fever at the school’s health facility on February 22. Recognizing the severity of his condition, he was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he was admitted into the pediatric emergency ward.
Despite receiving aggressive treatment, including appropriate antibiotics and a full dose of diphtheria toxoid serum, the student tragically succumbed to myocarditis—a severe heart complication associated with diphtheria—on March 6.
“Despite timely medical intervention, the bacterial toxin led to progressive and irreversible inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), resulting in his untimely death,” Abayomi revealed.
The 34 identified close contacts of the deceased were immediately placed under medical observation. Alarmingly, 14 students later developed symptoms consistent with diphtheria and were swiftly transferred to LUTH’s Children’s Emergency Unit for further screening.
Medical examinations confirmed that 12 of the 14 students had early-stage diphtheria. They were immediately placed on intensive antibiotic therapy and administered the diphtheria antitoxin serum.
So far, no new cases have been reported, and all 14 symptomatic students are said to be recovering under strict medical supervision.
A preliminary inspection of King’s College Annexe by health officials exposed gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, prompting an immediate overhaul to prevent future outbreaks.
In collaboration with federal health agencies, Lagos State is launching an urgent, targeted vaccination campaign across both the Victoria Island Annexe and the main school in Igbosere. All consenting students, teachers, and healthcare workers will be immunized to strengthen immunity against the deadly infection.
To expand public awareness, health authorities are distributing information leaflets across all healthcare facilities in Lagos, outlining diphtheria symptoms, prevention, and early treatment guidelines. Additionally, a public health broadcast will be issued, urging residents to be vigilant for signs such as sore throat, fever, breathing difficulties, and swollen neck glands.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) have been notified and are working closely with Lagos State to coordinate a comprehensive containment strategy.
Lagos has an emergency stock of nearly 500,000 doses of the diphtheria vaccine, which will be strategically deployed to high-risk zones. Meanwhile, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is convening daily crisis meetings to monitor the evolving situation and advise on policy directions.
Discussions are also underway with the Ministry of Basic and Tertiary Education, alongside key stakeholders, to enhance inter-sectoral coordination in preventing future outbreaks.
Commissioner Abayomi has urged Lagos residents to prioritize good hygiene practices, avoid crowded places, and seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of diphtheria-like symptoms.
“Early detection and treatment can save lives. Let’s work together to curb this outbreak and protect our communities,” he stated.
Reassuring the public, he added: “The situation is under control, and there is no need for panic. The government remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of every Lagos resident.”
With health authorities on high alert and swift intervention measures in place, Lagos is racing against time to prevent further casualties and halt the spread of this deadly disease.
PIONEER NEWS 