...Deploys surveillance, vaccination teams to priority settlements in Karshi…To provide free diphtheria treatment across FCT

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has recorded five confirmed cases of diphtheria with two deaths out of 15 suspected cases investigated in the territory.

Consequently, the administration has deployed surveillance and vaccination teams to priority settlements in Karshi, including Angwan Kokosa where the reported cases were recorded and surrounding communities.

Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who disclosed this on Thursday during an advocacy campaign and community engagement on the prevention and control of diphtheria at the Emir of Karshi’s Palace in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), stated that the teams , working with supervisors, town announcers, traditional and religious leaders, schools and health facilities, are conducting active case searches, assessing vaccination gaps and identifying children who have missed their routine vaccinations.

Fasawe noted that the vaccination efforts will prioritise zero-dose and under-immunized children adding that the administration is moving beyond responding to individual cases to strengthening protection across the entire FCT.

She said, “For the last few weeks, the FCT has received alerts of an infectious disease circulating in our communities. This disease has been confirmed by laboratory test to be Diphtheria. As of end of last week, the FCT had investigated 15 suspected cases. Five were laboratory-confirmed, while ten were discarded following investigation. Sadly, two deaths occurred among the confirmed cases.

“Following laboratory confirmation of a case, the FCT Administration immediately activated a multidisciplinary Incident Management Team. The teams have conducted active case searches to identify people with symptoms. Close contacts are being identified, listed and monitored, while eligible household contacts receive preventive antibiotics. Samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing, and healthcare workers are sensitized on early detection, infection prevention and control, and prompt notification” .
The Mandate Secretary emphasized that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin of an individual which is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium species, mainly by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Fasawe explained that early symptoms include fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and neck swelling, while severe cases could result in the formation of a thick greyish or whitish membrane in the throat, which could obstruct the airway adding that anyone with these symptoms must be taken to a health facility immediately.

“Families should not wait until the child begins to struggle to breathe. I therefore appeal to every parent and caregiver to please check your child vaccination card. If you are unsure whether your child has received all the recommended doses, take the child to the nearest primary healthcare centre. Even if the vaccination card is missing, please do not stay away. Our health workers will assess the child’s vaccination status and guide you appropriately”.

Fasawe warned that no patient with suspected diphtheria should be turned away or transferred without first being properly assessed, isolated where appropriate and stabilised adding that treatment for the disease is free of charge within the FCT.

She urged private hospitals that encounter suspected diphtheria cases to isolate and refer such patients to the nearest secondary health facility and immediately notify the disease surveillance system.
Fasawe stressed that FCTA will intensify risk communication and community engagement in languages that residents understand to ensure that accurate information reach households, schools, marketplaces, places of worship and motor parks.

She cautioned that rumours and misinformation must not be allowed to stand between any child and a lifesaving vaccine, stressing that the administration is strengthening access to appropriate management of sick persons.

Fasawe appealed to residents to avoid touching, scraping or attempting to remove a membrane from the throat of a suspected diphtheria patient as such manipulation can cause severe bleeding, shock, and death.

She urged traditional and religious leaders, teachers, school proprietors, and community associations to support the response teams, counter misinformation, and report unusual illnesses promptly.

Fasawe called on healthcare workers in public and private facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, apply the standard case definition, isolate suspected cases, and notify surveillance authorities immediately.

Also speaking, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Imabong Adebayo, pointed out that diphtheria is preventable through vaccination and urged traditional and religious leaders to support efforts to improve vaccine uptake in their communities.
She stated that the vaccines are safe and free for children and appealed to mothers and caregivers to ensure eligible children received routine vaccinations.

In his remarks, Acting Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Ghali Kassim, explained that Karshi was selected for the campaign due to the confirmed diphtheria case and the need to prevent further transmission.

He highlighted the importance of early reporting, and community engagement in containing the disease and appealed to the residents to cooperate with health officials in order to nip the disease in the bud.

The Emir of Karshi, Alhaji Ismail Mohammed, assured that traditional rulers would work with health authorities to contain the outbreak and ensure that the disease do not spread beyond the affected areas.

Mohammed who was represented by the Hakimi of Karshi, Alhaji Ahmed Doka commended the FCTA for the prompt intervention and called on the residents to quickly report any suspected cases of the disease to appropriate authorities .

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council and other partners all pledge their support towards a successful diphtheria response in the FCT.