The Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat has debunked a viral social media report alleging that a resident of Abuja contracted diphtheria after eating sliced watermelon.

The Mandate Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said field investigations conducted by the FCT Public Health Department and the Abuja Municipal Area Council found no evidence to substantiate the claim.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by Fasawe’s office on Wednesday, following concerns generated by a social media post by one Ivan Eagle Lawson, which featured a photograph purportedly showing a man identified as Mr Simeon Okoh, allegedly a victim of diphtheria in Abuja.

According to Fasawe, a multidisciplinary Rapid Response Team visited the location stated in the post on Monday to investigate the allegation.

She said the team’s enquiries with the estate management and physical inspection of the area revealed that the address contained in the social media post did not correspond with the estate’s road designations.

Fasawe added that the estate management could not identify any resident matching the description provided and had no knowledge of the alleged incident.

She said, “Checks of the FCT diphtheria line list and records at the National Reference Laboratory in Gaduwa did not identify a corresponding record.”

The Mandate Secretary said the investigation also failed to locate the person identified in the post or establish evidence supporting the alleged diagnosis.

She stressed that the investigation did not establish any link between watermelon and diphtheria.

“Diphtheria is a serious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection, usually caused by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected respiratory secretions or skin lesions,” she said.

Fasawe, however, said the clarification applied specifically to the viral claim and did not mean that diphtheria was no longer a public health concern in the FCT.

She said the ongoing diphtheria response in the territory remained active, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspected cases promptly.

According to her, most of the cases recorded during the current FCT outbreak had occurred among children, particularly those aged between five and nine years, many of whom were unvaccinated.

She urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children received all vaccinations recommended for their age, including the three primary doses of the diphtheria-containing pentavalent vaccine administered under the routine childhood immunisation programme.

Fasawe advised parents whose children had missed doses or had uncertain vaccination histories to visit the nearest primary healthcare facility for assessment and appropriate catch-up vaccination.

She also urged residents experiencing symptoms including fever, sore throat, neck swelling or difficulty swallowing to seek medical attention promptly.

“Difficulty breathing requires urgent medical attention,” she warned, adding that healthcare workers should immediately notify the relevant Area Council Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer of suspected cases.

The Mandate Secretary also cautioned residents against sharing unverified health information, saying such claims could heighten public anxiety and distract from ongoing response activities.

She urged the public to respect privacy and avoid stigmatising residents, communities and food vendors, stressing that a photograph alone could not confirm a diagnosis of diphtheria.

Fasawe appealed to anyone with information that could assist in verifying health-related claims to provide it privately to the FCT Public Health Department or AMAC health authorities rather than circulating unverified information online.

She said the FCT was continuing surveillance, awareness and community engagement activities, including door-to-door sensitisation, radio jingles and distribution of information, education and communication materials.

The Mandate Secretary also warned residents against circulating unverified claims about Ebola outbreaks, urging them to rely on official updates from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

She said residents seeking clarification on public health concerns could contact the FCT Public Health Department or the NCDC through its toll-free line, 6232.