The Lagos State Government has heightened its vigilance against diphtheria, declaring that while the state currently has no widespread outbreak, proactive measures are underway to prevent imported cases from taking hold in the densely populated commercial hub.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made this known in a social media post on the State’s Diphtheria Preparedness and Response press briefing.
According to the commissioner, Lagos has recorded 53 suspected cases and six laboratory-confirmed cases in 2026. Health officials have successfully managed the confirmed cases, while actively tracing and monitoring contacts to curb any potential spread.
With several states across Nigeria particularly in the northern region battling active outbreaks, Abayomi emphasized that Lagos cannot afford to be complacent.
He noted that the state’s high population density, heavy human mobility, and interconnectedness make it vulnerable to rapid transmission through households, schools, and congregate settings if an imported case goes unchecked.
As part of the state’s early preparedness strategy, he revealed that the government is strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, and clinical readiness across all tiers of healthcare.
Underscoring that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, the commissioner urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the full complement of three primary pentavalent doses administered at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
“If your child has received one or two doses, complete the schedule. If none, do not delay. Check the vaccination card,” Abayomi advised, adding that Lagos currently maintains about 64% full immunization coverage—a figure that leaves a significant number of children incompletely protected.
To bridge this gap, he noted that the state has positioned more than 1,000 healthcare facilities to provide routine immunizations free of charge at all government centers.
He also revealed that authorities are collaborating closely with the education sector as schools reopen to boost awareness, enhance school-based surveillance, and ensure institutional preparedness.
The commissioner further called on parents to be alert to the warning signs of diphtheria, which include a severe sore throat, fever, weakness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, neck swelling, and the hallmark white or greyish membrane at the back of the throat.
Reassuring residents that there is no cause for panic, Abayomi stressed that vigilance, completed vaccination records, and early care-seeking behavior remain the best defense.
He reiterated that Lagos will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation closely and act decisively to safeguard public health.