FCTA announces diphtheria outbreak in Abuja as disease kills four-year-old

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that diphtheria, a contagious disease, has broken out in Abuja and already claimed one life.

Making the announcement, yesterday, at a press conference, Director of Public Health, Dr. Sadiq Abdulraman, called on residents of FCT to immediately take the Pentavalent vaccine to stop spread of the disease, which infects the nose and throat.

A diphtheria patient experiences thick, grey matter covering the throat, making breathing hard.

The Guardian reports that the disease spreads through airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes), saliva (kissing or shared drinks).

Abdulraman explained that, of the eight cases recorded so far, a four-year-old died in Dei-Dei District.
According to him, results of samples taken from suspected cases in a village close to Dei-Dei established the breakout.

Cautioning residents on personal hygiene, he advised them to report any strange symptom, especially relating to their respiratory health.
He said: “Two weeks ago, we got information from a community within FCT of about eight suspected cases, which made our team to pick samples to the National Reference Laboratory Gaduwa and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). As at Friday afternoon, the results came out. Out of the eight suspected cases, one came out positive.”

Earlier this year, the disease was reportedly established in about three states across the country.
“Precisely, in January, a national alert was sent out on the outbreak of diphtheria in Lagos, Kano and Ondo states. That triggered a national response. NCDC, which is the flagship of disease outbreak and response in the country, sent a letter to all the states and FCT,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care, Dr. Yahaya Vatsa, said people most at risk were the unvaccinated and those living in crowded areas and/or where there is poor sanitation.

“Symptoms of the disease include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling and difficulty in breathing. Diphtheria spreads easily through direct contact with infected persons, droplets from coughing or sneezing and contact with contaminated clothing and objects. There is need for hygiene and environmental sanitation.

“To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, FCT residents are, hereby, advised to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated with three doses of the Pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the national childhood immunisation schedule,” he said.

The ES also advised those with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria to isolate themselves and notify the FCT Disease Surveillance Notification Officer (DSNO) and/or the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) through the FCT Call Centre toll-free lines.

“Close contacts with confirmed cases of diphtheria are being closely monitored with prophylactic antibiotics,” he noted.