Lagos State has recorded 10 confirmed cases of diphtheria between January 1 and March 27, 2025, leading health authorities to ramp up response efforts and urge the public to maintain strict hygiene, particularly during the festive period.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reported that the number of suspected cases fluctuated over the last three months, with some days recording as many as 15 cases and others as few as one.
Providing an update on the outbreak, Abayomi disclosed that laboratory tests conducted on 76 samples confirmed 10 positive cases, while 63 returned negative results. He noted that results for three additional samples collected on March 26 were still pending.
He revealed that the outbreak affected multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Eti-Osa recording the highest number of suspected cases at 44. Other impacted LGAs included Alimosho, Badagry, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Ojo, Mushin, and Lagos Island. He emphasized that all confirmed cases were required to remain under medical supervision to prevent further transmission and urged the public to cooperate with health authorities.
According to the Commissioner, 21 individuals had received Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) treatment, with King’s College in Eti-Osa having the highest number of recipients at 14. Other beneficiaries were from Lagos State Model School in Meiran, and various locations in Alimosho, Kosofe, and Badagry.
Abayomi further disclosed that 118 individuals had been identified as potential contacts of infected persons, with follow-up completed for 100, while 18 remained under monitoring. Additionally, 36 individuals across affected LGAs had received prophylactic treatment to curb further spread.
He stated that confirmed cases were linked to King’s College in Eti-Osa, Lagos State Model School in Meiran, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Mushin, De-Emmaculate School in Mile 12, and Gbara Junior Secondary School in Eti-Osa. These locations, he said, remained focal points for intensified interventions, including targeted vaccination campaigns and public awareness initiatives.
The Commissioner also highlighted the state’s ongoing vaccination efforts, which target close contacts of index cases, suspected patients, and frontline health workers. He noted that about 36,310 individuals had been vaccinated; including 7,473 individuals aged 9 to 17 years and 28,837 aged 18 and above. Among them, 13,633 were healthcare workers.
Risk communication and public health sensitization efforts had been reinforced through community-based social mobilization and media campaigns.
With residents preparing for Eid-el-Fitr, Easter celebrations, and the second-term school vacation, Abayomi urged strict adherence to precautionary measures such as maintaining hygiene, washing hands regularly, using sanitizers, and avoiding crowded places. He advised the public to report symptoms like cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, red eyes, neck swelling, and thick grey or white patches on the throat.
He stressed that early detection and reporting could save lives and curb further spread, adding that treatment for suspected cases was available free of charge at designated government health facilities.
Commending Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his prompt and strategic intervention, Prof. Abayomi acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF in providing technical assistance and resources to tackle the outbreak. He assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with its partners, was intensifying surveillance, treatment, and prevention efforts.
