Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has confirmed the outbreak of the deadly diphtheria disease in the territory after it claimed the life of a four year old boy out of eight reported cases.
The Director, FCT Public Health department, Sadiq Abdul-rahman, who announced this on Monday at a press briefing, said information available to it confirmed that the disease was imported from neighbouring Niger state.
He disclosed that two weeks ago, the department was alerted of a possible outbreak of the disease in Dei-Dei,with eight suspected cases reported.
Abdul-rahman added that the department immediately swung into action by activating its emergency response through which it collected samples for test at the National Reference Laboratory in Gaduwa as well as the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, noting that the outcome of the result which came last Friday, indicated that one came out positive out of the eight.
The Director explained that the Department is collaborating with neighbouring states to checkmate further spread of the disease from contagious states through border surveillance as he advised residents to take their personal hygiene seriously.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr Isa Yahaya Vatsa said diphtheria is caused by bacteria which signs includes fever, running nose, difficulty in breathing and can be transmitted through sneezing, droplets, coughing and contact with contaminated.
Vatsa advised residents to visits the over 400 vaccines outlets across the territory to get vaccinated against the disease.
According to him:” The symptoms of the disease include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty breathing. Diphtheria spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing and contact with contaminated clothing and objects, thereby underscoring the importance of hygiene and environmental sanitation in the prevention.
“To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, FCT residents are hereby advised to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated with three (3) doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunisation schedule.
“The FCTA through the Primary Health Care Board has concluded plans to revaccinate all children 14yrs and below in the affected community with the appropriate vaccines, irrespective of their previous vaccination status. (6wks – <4yrs will receive Penta Vaccine, while 4yrs – 14yrs will receive Td vaccine) There will be RI intensification exercise across the 6 Area Councils with increased access to the Routine Immunization services beyond the over 400 Health Care Facilities offering immunization in the FCT with the regular conduct of outreach services, taking the vaccines to where people live and work.
“Individuals with any of the signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria should isolate themselves and notify the FCT Disease Surveillance Notification Officer (DSNO), and/or the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) through our FCT Call Center toll-free lines.Close contacts with the confirmed case of diphtheria are being closely monitored with prophylactic antibiotics“, he explained
