The Lagos State Government has confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria at King’s College Annex, Victoria Island, Lagos, with 14 cases reported among students and one tragic death.
During an inspection visit to the school on Tuesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed the situation. He was joined by Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, and other officials.
Efforts to contain the outbreak include administering prophylactic medication to symptomatic students, setting up an isolation center, distributing nose masks, and establishing handwashing stations.
Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) have also donated medication and educated students on prevention measures.
The Parents-Teachers Association Chairperson expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and assured parents that measures are being implemented to manage the crisis effectively.
According to a report of the Punch, the visit by the Lagos State Government team to King’s College aimed to assess the situation firsthand and implement measures to contain the spread of the disease.
The delegation, including the Permanent Secretary of Lagos Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, and the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity, and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, conducted a thorough inspection of key facilities. The school’s Principal, Mr. Zachariah Magaji, along with the PTA Chairman, Engineer Peter Oluwaleye and representatives of the school’s alumni, joined health officials on a tour of the facility and participated in the vaccination exercise.
They examined the school’s kitchen, dining hall, dormitories, classrooms, sickbay, sanitary areas, and waste disposal units to identify risk factors and strengthen preventive measures against the disease’s spread.
The visit, which also focused on assessing hygiene standards and dormitory arrangements, comes amid growing concerns from parents and public health experts over the school’s sanitation conditions.
According to Prof. Abayomi, the outbreak had been ongoing for over 10 days before it was formally confirmed.
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