The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed two deaths from diphtheria following an outbreak in the nation’s capital, with five laboratory-confirmed cases recorded out of the 15 investigated.

The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this yesterday during a community sensitisation and advocacy event on the disease in Karshi.

She said the FCTA had investigated 15 suspected cases as at last week, with five testing positive for diphtheria, resulting in two deaths, while several patients had been successfully treated and discharged.

Fasawe, however, allayed fears among residents, saying the administration had activated measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.

She explained that diphtheria is a severe bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat and can sometimes affect the skin.

According to her, early symptoms include fever, cough and catarrh, which can progress to swelling of the neck and severe difficulty in breathing.

She cautioned residents against self-medication and attempting to remove the pseudo-membranes that form at the back of the throat of infected persons.

Fasawe recalled a tragic incident in which a child reportedly bled to death after a local barber attempted to cut the membrane, urging residents to immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities.

To contain the outbreak, she said the FCTA had deployed a multidisciplinary Incident Management Team to Karshi and surrounding rural and urban communities to conduct contact tracing, administer preventive antibiotics and intensify community sensitisation in local languages, including Hausa and Gbagyi.

The chief of Karshi, Ismaila Mohammed, represented by the district head, Alhaji Ahmed Doka, clarified that the recorded deaths did not occur within Karshi town but in a neighbouring border settlement along Nasarawa State.

He expressed appreciation for the government’s prompt intervention and pledged the support of traditional and religious leaders in ensuring that residents take sick children to designated health facilities instead of seeking unverified local remedies.

Also speaking, Hanatu Bello, who represented the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), assured residents that the agency was providing technical and operational support to the FCT to interrupt transmission and strengthen risk communication.

The FCT coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Imaobong Adebayo, represented by Dr Jibril Alkasim, highlighted the availability and safety of free routine childhood vaccines. (Daily Trust)