The Lagos government has activated its Emergency Response Committee following the diphtheria outbreak in the boarding house of King’s College, Lagos, Victoria Island Annex.

In a statement on Monday, health commissioner Akin Abayomi advised the public against panic.

Mr Abayomi assured residents that the outbreak was under control, appealing against panic and stressing that measures would continue in earnest to protect residents from infectious disease outbreaks.

He disclosed that an emergency operations committee has been activated to contain the outbreak and prevent undue fatalities.

According to him, the index case, a 12-year-old boy, presented with a sore throat and fever to the health facilities of the school on February 22.

“He was promptly referred and admitted to the pediatric emergency ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he was promptly admitted and administered appropriate antibiotics and a full dose of diphtheria antitoxoid serum.

“Despite the timely intervention, the boy succumbed to progressive and irreversible inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) on the 6th of March. Myocarditis is a severe and recognised complication of the bacterial infection caused by the toxin,” the health commissioner said.

Mr Abayomi noted that at the time of the student’s death, the committee had already been activated, and 34 close contacts of the deceased student were already being closely observed for symptoms.

“Of these, 14 have developed symptoms consistent with diphtheria. In response, the affected students were transported to the Children’s Emergency Unit at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where they were screened by health professionals,” the official added.

According to him, out of the 14 students examined,12 were determined to have developed early signs of diphtheria and were admitted to receive antibiotics and the diphtheria antitoxoid serum.

Mr Abayomi noted that a preliminary inspection of King’s College Annex by health officials uncovered areas where infection prevention and control measures needed strengthening.

The commissioner said the Lagos government, in collaboration with federal health agencies, are set to launch a targeted vaccination campaign for all consented students of the school (both the annexe on Victoria Island and the Main School in Igbosere).

He added that the inoculation would include all healthcare providers to strengthen immunity against the deadly infection. According to him, the exercise may expand statewide.

“The state government is also preparing a public health announcement to sensitise residents about the outbreak, warning them to watch out for symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, difficulty in breathing, and swollen neck glands,” he said.

(NAN)