Diphtheria Outbreak in FCT Claims Two Lives

The FCT has reported a diphtheria outbreak resulting in two deaths, as disclosed by Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, FCTA, during a community event in Karshi. As of last week, 15 suspected cases were investigated, with five testing positive for diphtheria.

Dr Fasawe emphasized the importance of early detection, warning against self-medication and the dangers of attempting to remove pseudo-membranes from infected individuals. She recounted a tragic incident involving a child who bled to death due to such an attempt.

To manage the outbreak, the FCTA has deployed a multidisciplinary Incident Management Team to conduct contact tracing and administer preventive antibiotics. The chief of Karshi, Ismaila Mohammed, clarified that the deaths occurred in a neighboring settlement, not within Karshi.

Hanatu Bello from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control assured residents of ongoing support to interrupt transmission, while the WHO's Imaobong Adebayo highlighted the availability of free routine childhood vaccines.