The Federal Capital Territory Administration has dismissed a viral social media claim alleging that a resident of Abuja contracted diphtheria after eating sliced watermelon, describing the report as unverified and unsupported by available evidence.
The clarification followed concerns generated by an online post that featured a photograph of a man identified as Mr Simeon Okoh and claimed he developed diphtheria after consuming watermelon.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said investigations conducted by the FCT Public Health Department and the Abuja Municipal Area Council found no evidence linking the alleged case to diphtheria or watermelon consumption.
According to her, a Rapid Response Team was deployed to the location mentioned in the social media post. However, findings revealed that the address did not correspond with the estate’s road layout, while estate management officials could not identify the individual named in the report or confirm knowledge of the alleged incident.
Fasawe added that checks of the FCT diphtheria surveillance records and the National Reference Laboratory database also failed to identify any matching case.
She stressed that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected secretions rather than through fruits such as watermelon.
While dismissing the viral claim, the health official noted that diphtheria remains a public health concern in the territory and urged residents to remain vigilant.
She disclosed that many of the cases recorded during the ongoing outbreak involved unvaccinated children between the ages of five and nine years.
Fasawe encouraged parents and caregivers to ensure children receive all recommended vaccinations and advised residents experiencing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, neck swelling or difficulty swallowing to seek immediate medical attention.
She also cautioned against sharing unverified health information online, warning that misinformation could fuel unnecessary panic and undermine public health response efforts.
