Director of FCT Public Health Department, Sadiq Abdulrahman, alleged that the disease was imported into the FCT from neighbouring Niger State.

There is an outbreak of the deadly diphtheria virus in the FCT.

The disease has already claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy out of eight reported cases. Director of FCT Public Health Department, Sadiq Abdulrahman, alleged that the disease was imported into the FCT from neighbouring Niger State.

He said the FCT public health department has 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. Abdulrahman said the outcome of the result which came last Friday, indicated that there is a positive result out of eight cases.

The department is also collaborating with neighbouring states to checkmate further spread of the disease through border surveillance. Residents have been advised to take their personal hygiene seriously.

Diphtheria symptoms include fever, runny nose, and difficulty in breathing. It can be transmitted through sneezing, droplets, coughing and contact with infected persons.