The Lagos State Government has assured residents that there is currently no widespread outbreak of diphtheria in the state, even as it intensifies surveillance and preparedness measures following reports of an active outbreak in some parts of the country.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, gave the assurance at a briefing in Lagos on Wednesday on the state’s preparedness and response to diphtheria.
He said Lagos has recorded 53 suspected cases in 2026, six of which were laboratory-confirmed.
All six confirmed cases were appropriately managed, while their contacts were traced and monitored during the incubation period.
Abayomi urged parents to check their children’s immunisation records and ensure that any outstanding doses are completed, describing vaccination as the most effective means of preventing diphtheria.
With schools expected to reopen in a few days, the Commissioner said the Health Ministry is working closely with the education sector to strengthen awareness and vaccination among schoolchildren.
Diphtheria is a bacterial respiratory infection that can produce toxins capable of affecting vital organs, particularly the heart. Swelling and a thick membrane in the throat can also obstruct breathing.
Symptoms include severe sore throat, fever, weakness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, neck swelling, and a white or greyish membrane at the back of the throat.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
