Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said that six people have been confirmed to have diphtheria in the state.
Abayomi disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference on the state’s preparedness and response to diphtheria.
He, however, reassured residents that Lagos State was not experiencing a widespread outbreak, saying authorities had activated precautionary measures.
“We are appealing to all the people in Lagos State to remain calm. There is currently no outbreak of diphtheria in the state.
“We are taking precautionary measures,” he said, stressing that surveillance and preparedness remained central to the state’s response.
The commissioner said the government had strengthened active disease surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and follow-up of confirmed cases.
He said the measures were necessary because diphtheria outbreaks were ongoing in other parts of the country.
According to Abayomi, Lagos State must remain vigilant because of its large population and extensive travel connections with states recording high diphtheria cases.
He said the state was particularly conscious of the risk of imported infections through constant movement of people between Lagos and affected areas.
“We are strengthening our surveillance system to ensure that suspected cases are detected early and appropriately investigated,” he said.
Abayomi said the government was also ensuring designated health facilities had adequate capacity to manage suspected cases and possible complications.
He identified four designated facilities for managing suspected diphtheria cases across Lagos State.
They are Mainland Hospital, formerly Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba; Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Lagos Island; LUTH; and LASUTH.
The commissioner said the facilities would support appropriate clinical management, laboratory investigation and infection-control measures when suspected cases were identified.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that diphtheria is a bacterial respiratory infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can produce a toxin capable of damaging vital organs.
The toxin can particularly affect the heart, while throat swelling and a thick membrane may obstruct breathing.
Abayomi emphasised that immunisation remained the most effective means of preventing diphtheria and reducing severe disease.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children received the complete three-dose pentavalent vaccination schedule.
He said the recommended pentavalent vaccination doses were administered at six, 10 and 14 weeks.
The commissioner disclosed that Lagos currently had about 64 per cent full vaccination coverage.
He expressed concern that some children remained partially vaccinated or had not received any vaccination, leaving gaps in population protection.
Abayomi said Lagos had more than 1,000 healthcare facilities providing routine immunisation services across the public and private sectors.
He added that vaccines were available free of charge at government health facilities across the state.
The commissioner urged parents to take advantage of the available vaccination services and ensure their children completed the recommended schedule.
He said improving vaccination coverage would strengthen community protection and reduce the likelihood of severe diphtheria cases.
Abayomi also urged residents to adopt appropriate respiratory hygiene practices to reduce transmission of respiratory infections.
He advised people to cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and wash their hands frequently.
Residents experiencing respiratory symptoms were also advised to avoid close contact with other people.
The commissioner said the state was paying particular attention to schools ahead of their expected reopening.
He said the Ministry of Health was working with the education sector to strengthen awareness and vaccination among students.
According to him, suspected diphtheria cases identified in schools would trigger appropriate contact tracing and infection-control measures.
He said early identification and response would help prevent potential transmission within schools and surrounding communities.
Abayomi urged residents to remain calm while maintaining vigilance and promptly reporting symptoms suggestive of diphtheria.
He listed severe sore throat, fever, weakness, difficulty breathing or swallowing, neck swelling and a white or grey coating in the throat.
Residents experiencing such symptoms were advised to seek medical attention promptly rather than resorting to self-medication.
He particularly urged people who had travelled to affected states or contacted confirmed cases to consult doctors without delay.
Abayomi said early medical assessment remained important because diphtheria could progress rapidly and cause serious complications if treatment was delayed.
The commissioner reiterated that the absence of a widespread outbreak should not lead residents to disregard preventive measures.
He said continued surveillance was essential to ensure that isolated confirmed cases did not develop into wider community transmission.
NAN also reports that Lagos State recorded 10 confirmed diphtheria cases between Jan. 1 and March 27, 2025.
The cases were reported across multiple local government areas (LGAs), with Eti-Osa recording the highest number during that period.
The index case was a 12-year-old student of King’s College, Lagos, who died from the disease on March 6, 2025.
The 2025 cases underscored the need for sustained surveillance, vaccination and rapid response to suspected infections across the state.
Nationally, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) showed more than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases had been recorded in 2026.
The national situation has prompted heightened preparedness among states, particularly those with strong population movement and links with affected locations.
For Lagos State, Abayomi said the priority was to detect suspected cases early, confirm infections quickly and prevent further transmission.
He urged residents to support health authorities by reporting symptoms promptly and complying with contact-tracing and infection-control measures.
Abayomi said vaccination remained the strongest protection available, urging families to ensure children were fully immunised against diphtheria.
He maintained that Lagos State was prepared to respond to suspected cases while continuing efforts to close existing immunisation gaps.
