The Lagos State Government has urged residents not to panic over diphtheria, saying the state has no widespread outbreak despite recording six laboratory-confirmed cases in 2026.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Tuesday, while providing an update on the state’s preparedness and response to the disease.
Abayomi said Lagos had recorded 53 suspected diphtheria cases in 2026, with six subsequently confirmed through laboratory testing.
According to him, the confirmed cases were managed by health officials, while their contacts were traced and monitored.
He said the state was taking precautionary measures because diphtheria was affecting several states across Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country.
“As transmission continues and people move between affected states and Lagos, we must prepare early,” he said in a post on X.
The commissioner said Lagos’ high population density and mobility made it necessary for the state to strengthen its preparedness, as an imported case could spread rapidly through households, schools and other congregate settings.
He said the state was therefore strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing and clinical preparedness.
Abayomi stressed that diphtheria was preventable through vaccination, urging parents to ensure their children receive the recommended three primary pentavalent vaccine doses at six, 10 and 14 weeks.
He advised parents whose children had received only one or two doses to complete the vaccination schedule, while those who had not received any dose should commence vaccination without delay.
The commissioner said Lagos currently had about 64 per cent full immunisation coverage, meaning that a significant number of children remained incompletely protected.
He added that more than 1,000 health facilities across the state provide routine immunisation and that vaccination is free at government facilities.
As schools reopen, Abayomi said the government was working with the education sector to strengthen awareness, surveillance and preparedness against diphtheria.
He urged parents to familiarise themselves with the warning signs of the disease, including severe sore throat, fever, weakness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, neck swelling, and the presence of a white or greyish membrane at the back of the throat.
He advised residents who develop such symptoms to seek medical attention promptly, particularly if they had recently travelled to an affected area or had contact with a suspected diphtheria case.
Abayomi warned that diphtheria could cause airway obstruction and that its toxin could damage the heart, stressing that early recognition and prompt treatment could save lives.
“There is no need to panic, but reason to remain vigilant,” he said.
He urged residents to check their children’s vaccination records, complete outstanding vaccinations and seek medical care early when symptoms occur.
The commissioner assured Lagos residents that the state would continue to monitor the situation and take decisive measures to protect the population.
