The outbreak of diphtheria infection in several areas of Abuja has been reported by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The nose, throat, and occasionally the skin of a person are all affected by the bacterial infection known as diphtheria, which is brought on by the corynebacterium species.
Fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and breathing difficulties are a few diphtheria symptoms.
The sickness has already claimed the life of a four-year-old child, according to Sadiq Abdulrahman, the director of public health for the FCT.
A sample retrieved from a suspected case in a village near to the Dei-Dei area yielded a positive result, according to Abdulrahman, confirming the illness epidemic in the nation’s capital.
He urged the locals to practice good personal cleanliness and to notify the appropriate authorities of any unusual symptoms, especially those that might be related to their respiratory health.
“Two weeks ago, we got information from a community within the FCT of eight cases and that made our team pick some samples,” he said.
“The samples were taken to the National Reference Laboratory, Gaduwa and the NCDC, and one of the suspected cases came out positive.”
The director said the department was collaborating with neighbouring states to checkmate the further spread of the disease through border surveillance.
Also speaking, Yahaya Vatsa, executive secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), said unvaccinated people and those living in crowded and unhygienic environments are at high risk of contracting the disease.
He said to reduce the risk of contracting the disease, FCT residents should ensure their children are fully vaccinated with three doses of the pentavalent vaccine.
“This is recommended in the national childhood immunisation schedule,” he said.
The executive secretary added that the FCTA, through the PHCB had concluded plans to revaccinate all children bellow 14 years in the affected communities.