Lagos State has stepped up surveillance and public awareness on diphtheria as the highly contagious disease continues to affect several parts of Nigeria, with national surveillance data pointing to thousands of confirmed infections and hundreds of deaths this year.
The State Government said it was intensifying public awareness and preventive measures because of the extensive movement of people between Lagos and states where diphtheria transmission has been reported.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi speaking during the launch of the awareness campaign, said Lagos was being proactive because of the possibility that infected people could travel into the state.
“We’re watching this outbreak expanding and we are cautious in Lagos as always,” the Commissioner said.
Thousands of cases nationally
According to recent data presented by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria recorded 12,977 suspected diphtheria cases, 10,476 confirmed cases and 406 deaths between January and August 2026.
The NCDC said eight states accounted for 98 per cent of confirmed cases, identifying Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara among the most affected states.
Kano was identified as the major hotspot, while Katsina and Plateau have also recorded significant transmission.
In Katsina, the NCDC update said cases had been reported in 29 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
In Plateau, the update reported about 303 suspected cases and 27 deaths as of the date cited.
The figures underline the continuing national public health concern over a disease that is largely preventable through vaccination.
Why Lagos is concerned
For Lagos, the concern is not that the state is currently experiencing a diphtheria outbreak.
The Commissioner stressed that there is no current diphtheria outbreak in Lagos, describing the state’s response as precautionary.
Nevertheless, he disclosed that Lagos had recorded 53 suspected cases in 2026, of which six were confirmed through laboratory testing.
The confirmed patients were managed appropriately, while health officials conducted contact tracing to identify people who might have been exposed.
Those contacts were subsequently monitored during the incubation period to determine whether they developed symptoms.
The Commissioner said the movement of people between Lagos and other parts of the country was an important reason for maintaining heightened surveillance.
With its large and densely populated population, Lagos also has to guard against the possibility that an imported infection could lead to further transmission.
A highly contagious and potentially deadly disease
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat.
One of its characteristic features is the formation of a thick greyish membrane in the throat, which can interfere with breathing and swallowing.
In severe cases, the infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
The bacteria can produce a powerful toxin that enters the bloodstream and damages organs, particularly the heart. Severe disease can also affect the nervous system.
Diphtheria spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from an infected person, such as when the person coughs or sneezes. Transmission can also occur through contact with infected sores or contaminated objects.
This makes early recognition and prompt medical attention particularly important.
Most confirmed cases are among the unvaccinated
The NCDC update said about 68 per cent of confirmed diphtheria cases were among unvaccinated people.
This highlights the central role of vaccination in preventing the disease.
Children receive protection through the routine childhood immunisation programme, including the three-dose pentavalent vaccine series.
Older children and adults may also receive booster-containing diphtheria vaccines through catch-up and other immunisation campaigns, depending on the programme available to them.
The Lagos Commissioner urged parents and caregivers to check their children’s vaccination records and ensure that recommended immunisations are up to date.
Don’t panic—but don’t ignore the warning
The message from Lagos is one of vigilance, not panic.
“There isn’t an outbreak currently in Lagos. We’re just taking precautionary measures,” the Commissioner said.
For residents, however, the national situation is a reminder that infectious diseases can move with people from one community to another.
People should seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms suggestive of diphtheria, particularly a severe sore throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the neck.
Treatment includes antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria and, where indicated, diphtheria antitoxin to neutralise the toxin produced by the bacteria.
Early treatment can reduce the risk of serious complications.
