Health authorities in Lagos State have raised their response measures after detecting ten confirmed cases of diphtheria between January 1 and March 27, 2025 because of which they urge the general public to adhere to rigorous hygiene standards primarily during festivals.
Data from Prof. Akin Abayomi during his role as the Lagos State Commissioner for Health indicated that suspected case statistics varied between maximum levels of 15 to minimum levels of one throughout the recent three-month period.
According to Abayomi the laboratory results from 76 tested samples yielded 10 positive outcomes but 63 samples showed no signs of the virus. The results from three March 26 collected samples remained under investigation by the laboratory testing facilities.
The outbreak across different Local Government Areas of Eti-Osa led the area to report 44 suspected cases being the highest among all affected areas. The Lagos disease control reached Alimosho along with Badagry, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Ojo, Mushin and Lagos Island. The public must maintain full cooperation with medical authorities because confirmed patients needed medical observation to block disease spread.
The Commissioner reported that 21 people received Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) treatment and King’s College in Eti-Osa had 14 recipients. Lagos State Model School in Meiran alongside different areas in Alimosho, Kosofe, and Badagry received these beneficiaries.
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Abayomi revealed that healthcare workers traced 118 potential contact cases of infected persons but completed follow-up for 100 cases and left 18 for continued observation. The administration provided prophylactic treatment to 36 people located in infected LGAs for limiting additional transmission.
According to the Commissioner the identified schools included King’s College in Eti-Osa and Lagos State Model School in Meiran along with Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Mushin and De-Emmaculate School in Mile 12 as well as Gbara Junior Secondary School in Eti-Osa. According to his statement these locations received extra attention through targeted vaccination programs as well as public awareness initiatives.
The Commissioner conveyed that the state continues vaccination programs directed at people who have regular contact with index cases together with suspected patients and health staff on frontlines. The vaccination efforts had reached 36,310 people with 7,473 falling between 9 and 17 years old and 28,837 aged 18 and above. Among them, 13,633 were healthcare workers.
The government strengthened public health messages by launching social mobilization initiatives while using media platforms for education campaigns.
Abayomi advised residents to adhere to important safety measures while preparing for Eid-el-Fitr and Easter celebrations along with their school vacation due to the ongoing second-term break. The public should notice symptoms including cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat together with red eyes, neck swelling and thick gray or white throat patches.
Patients who display symptoms should seek treatment at free government health facilities for suspected across the country. Early detection and reporting operations can both protect lives and stop additional transmissions.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu achieves efficient approval due to his immediate strategic action during the outbreak according to Prof. Abayomi whose team receives technical resources from NCDC with WHO alongside UNICEF. The official guaranteed residents that the government operated alongside its partners to enhance outbreak response through increased surveillance as well as treatment and prevention measures.
