In a swift response to the recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College Annexe, Victoria Island, the Lagos State Government has commenced an emergency vaccination exercise to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease and safeguard public health. The vaccination campaign aims to protect students, staff, and the wider school community while reinforcing public health measures to prevent further infections.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who led a delegation of top government officials, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke to the school for a comprehensive assessment situation and to oversee the vaccination exercise emphasized the urgency of the intervention.

[b]“We were very concerned about what’s going on at King’s College Annexe – an outbreak of diphtheria fever that has been ongoing for about ten days. Unfortunately, the first case led to a tragic loss. However, since identifying the outbreak, we have screened affected students, placed them on antibiotics and anti-serum, and I am pleased to report that all those receiving treatment are doing well,” [/b]he stated.

Prof. Akin Abayomi in company of government delegation, school management, PTA executives and some members of the school alumni association inspected critical facilities within the school, including the dormitories, classrooms, kitchen, dining hall, sanitary areas, and waste disposal units as part of containment measures.

While noting that the objective of the inspection tour was to evaluate risk factors and enforce improvements to sanitary conditions to reduce the chances of bacterial transmission, the Commissioner highlighted the role of crowded and poorly ventilated environments in the spread of diphtheria, which is transmitted via airborne droplets.

“This disease thrives in crowded environments with poor ventilation. We have spoken with the school authorities to ensure proper spacing between students, improve airflow in classrooms and dormitories, and enhance access to clean water. These are fundamental to halting transmission,” he explained.

He [/b]disclosed that a key element of the intervention is the emergency vaccination campaign, targeting students with parental consent as well as all staff members.

[b]“Normally, every child is vaccinated against diphtheria as part of routine immunization, but over time, immunity can weaken. That’s why we are here today to administer booster shots. The vaccine will strengthen their immune response, preventing further spread,” Prof. Abayomi stated.

He added that the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has deployed medical teams to carry out the vaccinations, ensuring that all eligible students receive protection, noting also that vaccination at the main campus in Igbosere is also planned, given the movement of students and staff between the two locations.

Prof. Abayomi strongly advised parents against withdrawing their children from school, warning that premature exits could compromise containment efforts. “We understand parents’ concerns, but removing students could lead to further spread. A child may appear well but still be incubating the bacteria. If they leave, they risk infecting family members or the wider community. Right now, the school is almost functioning as an isolation center with professional care on-site. It’s safer for them to remain here,” he assured.

Skty:
See lagos when Dem build...crowded, dirty, filthy, congested place. Govt, it's time to open other sea ports. Lagos needs freedom.

kelvindj98:
Mumus above wan feel among. The worst thing the internet has done is providing every imbe a platform to yarn dust.

Skty:
See lagos when Dem build...crowded, dirty, filthy, congested place. Govt, it's time to open other sea ports. Lagos needs freedom.

Oritna94:
The outbreak of diphtheria in Kings college started late last year. And there is more than one casualty. I lost my nephew in December last year to the same Diphtheria in King's college. He was only 12 years old. The school failed to inform his parents when he was sick. It was a cleaner in the school who alerted his sister to come pick him up. It was too late by then.

Skty:
See lagos when Dem build...crowded, dirty, filthy, congested place. Govt, it's time to open other sea ports. Lagos needs freedom.

Skty:
See lagos when Dem build...crowded, dirty, filthy, congested place. Govt, it's time to open other sea ports. Lagos needs freedom.

Ibst:
Good, prevention is better than cure

Oritna94:
The outbreak of diphtheria in Kings college started late last year. And there is more than one casualty. I lost my nephew in December last year to the same Diphtheria in King's college. He was only 12 years old. The school failed to inform his parents when he was sick. It was a cleaner in the school who alerted his sister to come pick him up. It was too late by then.

EXOUSIAng:
This guy is probably one of the commissioner for health a Nigerian state ever had.

He is even doing better than the Minister of health.

Takes back to COVID-19.
You will think Lagos was another country inside Nigeria and he was another minister of health

frog12:
so he waited until an outbreak to act and out call him one of the best

EXOUSIAng:


So what were you doing expecting him to have done before the outbreak.
Do you have sense at all?

Your brain doesn't tell you that you can't do anything about things like this?

Why didn't the greatest countries in the world prevent COVID-19 before it broke out?

Oritna94:
The outbreak of diphtheria in Kings college started late last year. And there is more than one casualty. I lost my nephew in December last year to the same Diphtheria in King's college. He was only 12 years old. The school failed to inform his parents when he was sick. It was a cleaner in the school who alerted his sister to come pick him up. It was too late by then.

KemoSabe:

woww..my alma mata. pls accept my condolences. Congestion is always a problem in secondary schools... like KC & indeed Lag.

ProudlyLagos:
its too early to be bitter nwokem….btw maybe if you and your generation of displaced economic migrants stay back in your barren region, maybe Lagos won’t be dirty and crowded with your dirty tribesmen

yahoodetector:


Is it not your kinsmen from Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti etc that have abandoned their villages for rats and lizards and ran to Lagos?

Was the last outbreak of cholera in Lagos not as a result of using dirty water to washing food eaten by your dirty kinsmen?
Was the last food poisoning incident not as a result of expired Amala which is a staple amongst your people?