One Person Dies as FCTA Declares Diphtheria Outbreak in Abuja

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has declared an outbreak of Diphtheria disease in the nation’s capital.

The Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Sadiq Abdulrahman said Monday that a four-year-old boy died out of the eight suspected cases whose samples were taken to the National Reference Laboratory Gaduwa for analysis. The outbreak was reported in a village in Dei-Dei close to Niger State.

He said four of the suspected eight cases were members of the same household and the only case which came out positive was incidentally the only death in the FCT.

Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains, which can lead to difficulty in breathing, heart rhythm problems and even death.

It targets the organs most especially in the upper respiratory part. The victim will manifest with signs like flu, which may translate to cough and sometimes get worse by affecting the lymph nodes around the upper respiratory system by causing swelling around the neck.

Abdulrahman cautioned FCT residents on personal hygiene, advising them to report any strange symptoms, especially relating to their respiratory health. 

“Two weeks ago we got information from a community within the FCT of about eight suspected cases which triggered our team to pick some samples which were taken to the National Reference Laboratory Gaduwa and the NCDC. As at Friday afternoon the results came out. Out of the eight suspected cases, one came out positive,” Abdulrahman said.

According to him, the disease had been established in about three states across the country, earlier this year, Kano, Lagos and Ondo while its presence had been established in 21 states of the federation.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care, Dr. Yahaya Vatsa said the people mostly at risk are the unvaccinated ones that live in crowded areas and/or where there is poor sanitation.

He urged FCT residents to ensure that their children were fully vaccinated with three doses of the Pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunisation schedule to mitigate the risk of contracting the disease

“The FCTA through the Primary Health Care Board has concluded plans to re-vaccinate all children 14 years and below in the affected community with the appropriate vaccines, irrespective of their previous vaccination status,” Vatsa said.