In response to a recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College Annex, Victoria Island, the Lagos State Government has launched a vaccination campaign for students and staff to curb the spread of the disease. The state government, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), initiated the vaccination exercise on Tuesday to boost the immune systems of the students and staff. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the vaccine being administered is a combination of diphtheria and tetanus to prevent infection. Diphtheria, as explained by WHO, is a contagious disease caused by toxin-producing bacteria that can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Vaccines can prevent the disease, and early treatment can reduce the risk of complications or death. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 41,336 suspected cases of diphtheria in 37 states between Epidemiological Week 19, 2022, and Epidemiological Week 4, 2025. The diphtheria outbreak at King’s College, Lagos, has resulted in one student’s death and the hospitalization of four others at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The outbreak has raised concerns among parents and prompted calls for improved hygiene and healthcare measures at schools. Prof. Abayomi provided an update on the situation, revealing that 14 King’s College students exhibited symptoms of diphtheria, with 12 already receiving treatment. Emphasizing the importance of sanitation, information, and vaccination, Abayomi urged students to maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly, and wear face masks. He reassured parents that the government has the situation under control and encouraged them not to panic, stating that it is safer for students to remain in school where they can receive proper care. The commissioner highlighted that the vaccine is safe and effective, with mild adverse effects such as soreness around the injection site and mild fever being normal. The government is taking steps to improve the school’s sanitary conditions, ensuring adequate water supply, proper waste management, and regular cleaning of classrooms and dormitories. Prof. Abayomi added, “We have been sent here by His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the entire Executive Council. We discussed this in detail yesterday at the Cabinet meeting. We were very concerned about what is going on in this King’s College Annex, an outbreak of diphtheria fever, which has been going on now for a little over 10 days, and we have had a number of children falling sick. “Unfortunately, the very first child that developed the fever passed away at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital from the severe complications of diphtheria. That happens when we don’t intervene fast enough when the child is not diagnosed, and the disease progresses and starts to produce complications. “Subsequently, once we identified that this was diphtheria, we were able to screen other children, and we took the children to various hospitals where they have been screened, assessed, and given appropriate antibiotics and antiserum. Twelve of those 14 received antibiotics and the antiserum, and they are all being observed, both in the hospital and some back here, and all of them are doing well. “To further interrupt the transmission of the bacteria from child to child, we’ve come to inspect the school to look at the sanitary conditions, ablution facilities, dormitories, and classrooms because this is a disease that spreads airborne by droplet, so it’s more likely to spread in crowded living environments. We’ve come to speak to the authorities to improve spacing between children, ventilation in classrooms, access to water, and reduce crowdedness.” The government is working closely with WHO, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The commissioner expressed condolences to the family of the student who lost his life to the disease and assured the public of the government’s commitment to ensuring such incidents do not recur. As the vaccination exercise continues, Abayomi urged parents to provide consent for their children to be vaccinated. “Because they (students) are minors, we cannot vaccinate them without parental consent. So all the children have a consent form signed by their parents, they are going to receive the vaccine today. The vaccine will start to work in their body to build up their immune system that already exists from their childhood immunisation and make it even more robust so that if they come into contact with a child that has the fever and is exporting the bacteria in their droplets, that they are not likely to catch the diphtheria fever,” he stated. The government will extend the vaccination exercise to the main campus of King’s College in Igbosere and other schools in the state. Abayomi stressed that this event serves as a learning experience for the government to improve vaccination policies, reduce overcrowding, and enhance access to water, toilets, and other facilities in schools. The health commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all students in the state and urged the public to report any suspected cases of diphtheria to the nearest health facility. He outlined the symptoms of diphtheria as severe sore throat, swelling of the neck, and fever, advising that anyone exhibiting these symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
