A 12-year-old student of the King’s College in Victoria Island, Lagos has been reported dead with 14 schoolmates hospitalisised following the outbreak of diphtheria in the school.
According to the Lagos State Government, 34 close contacts of the deceased have been identified and placed under observation.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that the index case, a 12-year-old boy, developed a sore throat and fever on February 22 and was referred to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he received treatment but succumbed to myocarditis, a severe diphtheria complication, on March 6.
He added that 14 other students showed signs of the infection and were transferred to LUTH for screening. Twelve tested positive for early signs of diphtheria and are receiving antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin serum. All are reported to be recovering.
The state government due to the incident activated an Emergency Response Committee and will begin a mass vaccination campaign targeting schoolchildren and healthcare providers. Nearly 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccine will be deployed to high-risk areas, and infection prevention measures will be strengthened at King’s College.
Public awareness campaigns are also underway, urging residents to recognize symptoms such as sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and swollen neck glands. The Lagos State government is working closely with federal health agencies and the WHO to contain the outbreak.
Prof. Abayomi reassured residents that the situation is under control and emphasized the importance of good hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.
