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ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Capital Territory Administration has confirmed five cases of diphtheria out of 15 suspected cases investigated across the territory as of last week.

The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this during a community sensitisation and advocacy campaign on diphtheria prevention and control held at the palace of the Emir of Karshi in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

According to media reports, Dr. Fasawe said 10 of the suspected cases were discarded after thorough investigation, while five were confirmed through laboratory testing.

According to her, the FCTA immediately activated a multidisciplinary Incident Management Team following the confirmation of the first case to contain further spread.

She said the response strategy includes active case searches, identification and monitoring of close contacts, administration of preventive antibiotics to eligible household contacts, and laboratory testing of all suspected cases.

As part of containment efforts, she said surveillance and vaccination teams have been deployed to Karshi, Angwan Kokosa and surrounding communities to identify suspected cases, assess vaccination gaps and locate children who missed routine immunisation.

“Diphtheria is preventable through vaccination and can be successfully treated when detected early,” Fasawe said, adding that priority is being given to zero-dose and under-immunised children.

She urged parents and caregivers to check their children’s vaccination cards and visit the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre if they are unsure of their vaccination status.

The Mandate Secretary warned residents against self-medication and against attempts to remove the membrane that forms at the back of the throat of infected persons, stressing that all suspected cases should be taken immediately to a health facility.

She directed all public secondary health facilities in the FCT to be fully prepared to receive and manage suspected and confirmed cases, warning that no case should be turned away or transferred without proper assessment, isolation and stabilisation.

Also speaking, the Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, said the territory has active outbreak response structures covering surveillance, case management and risk communication. She identified children aged five to nine years as the most vulnerable group and urged parents to ensure routine vaccination and prompt medical attention.

Representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Hanatu Bello, assured the FCT of technical and operational support to interrupt transmission and strengthen risk communication, while the World Health Organization reaffirmed support for active case searches and efforts to increase vaccination coverage.

In his remarks, the Chief of Karshi, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, represented by the District Head of Karshi, Alhaji Ahmed Doka, pledged the support of traditional and religious leaders in mobilising residents to take sick children to designated health facilities and shun unverified remedies. He clarified that the two fatalities linked to the scare did not occur in Karshi town itself but in a neighbouring border settlement in Nasarawa State.

The sensitisation campaign comes amid a wider outbreak across the country. At a press briefing in Abuja, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed that Nigeria has recorded more than 10,000 confirmed cases of diphtheria in 2026, with cases concentrated in Kano, Borno, Bauchi and other northern states.

Health authorities have continued to emphasize vaccination, early diagnosis, prompt treatment and immediate reporting of suspected cases as key measures to limit transmission and reduce deaths.