ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) has officially debunked a viral social media claim that linked an alleged case of diphtheria in Abuja to the consumption of sliced watermelon, saying a thorough field verification exercise found no evidence to support the story. The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, following concerns raised by a social media post that had circulated widely across platforms. The post, authored by a user identified as Ivan Eagle Lawson, included a photograph purportedly showing a man named Mr Simeon Okoh and alleged that he was a victim of diphtheria in Abuja. It also suggested a link between the illness and sliced watermelon, a detail that sparked particular concern among residents and food vendors. In the statement, Bola Ajao, media aide to the FCT Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, said field verification by the FCT Public Health Department and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) found no evidence to establish the identity of the person in the photograph, the alleged address or the reported diphtheria case. The photograph and the details accompanying the post could not be verified as genuine or linked to any confirmed diphtheria case in the FCT, the statement added. Dr Fasawe made the clarification after her office received multiple inquiries from concerned members of the public, and she reassured residents that the secretariat takes all such reports seriously but will not allow unverified information to cause unnecessary panic.
Giving details of the investigation, Dr Fasawe said a multidisciplinary Rapid Response Team from the FCT Public Health Department and AMAC visited the location described in the post on 28 September 2026 to investigate the claim. The team included public health officials, disease surveillance officers and local government health workers, and it was tasked with tracing the alleged patient, verifying the address, and checking official records. During the visit, the team made enquiries with the estate management and carried out physical observations of the area. It was established that the alleged address was inconsistent with the estate’s road designations, meaning that the address given in the social media post did not correspond to any known location in the estate. Estate management could not identify a resident matching the details provided and reported no knowledge of the alleged incident. In addition, checks of the FCT diphtheria line list — the official register of all suspected, probable and confirmed diphtheria cases in the territory — and records at the National Reference Laboratory in Gaduwa did not identify a corresponding record. The team did not locate the person described in the post, and the investigation did not establish evidence supporting the alleged diagnosis or its claimed link to watermelon. Dr Fasawe commended the residents’ association for cooperating with the verification team and helping to address community concerns. She stressed that these findings relate to the specific claim circulating online and should not be interpreted as a denial of the broader diphtheria outbreak response. The ongoing diphtheria response in the FCT continues, she said, and residents should remain vigilant and report suspected illness promptly.
Providing the medical background, Dr Fasawe explained that diphtheria is a serious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection usually caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The disease spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and through direct contact with infected respiratory secretions or skin lesions. Diphtheria can affect the throat, nose and skin, and in severe cases it can cause complications and death if not treated promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical, but prevention through vaccination remains the most effective strategy. The Mandate Secretary emphasised that the investigation did not establish that watermelon caused the alleged illness, and there is no evidence to suggest that sliced watermelon is a vehicle for diphtheria transmission. Diphtheria is not known to be spread through food in this manner; it is primarily transmitted from person to person. She therefore asked the public to disregard the watermelon link as baseless in this particular claim. At the same time, she reiterated that the FCT’s ongoing diphtheria response continues, and residents should remain vigilant and report suspected illness promptly. Clinicians are expected to maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria, particularly in children presenting with fever, sore throat and neck swelling who have not been fully vaccinated. Prompt reporting allows public health teams to investigate, confirm and respond to cases before the disease can spread further.
Dr Fasawe noted that most cases recorded during the current FCT outbreak have been among children, particularly those aged five to nine years, many of whom were unvaccinated or had not completed their vaccination schedules. This age pattern is consistent with diphtheria outbreaks in settings where routine immunisation coverage is suboptimal, leaving cohorts of children susceptible to infection. The Mandate Secretary therefore urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive all vaccinations recommended for their age, including the three primary doses of the diphtheria-containing pentavalent vaccine provided through routine childhood immunisation. The pentavalent vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b, and is usually given in the first months of life. Children with missed doses or uncertain vaccination histories should be taken to the nearest primary healthcare facility for assessment and appropriate catch-up vaccination, she added. Dr Fasawe also reminded residents of the symptoms of diphtheria, which include fever, sore throat, neck swelling and difficulty swallowing. Difficulty breathing requires urgent medical attention. She advised healthcare workers to immediately notify the appropriate Area Council Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer of suspected cases, in line with established public health reporting protocols. Early identification and reporting are critical to enable laboratory confirmation, contact tracing and other public health measures that protect close contacts and the wider community. The secretariat, she said, remains committed to supporting health facilities and communities in the fight against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Addressing the wider issue of misinformation, the Mandate Secretary urged the public to respect privacy and avoid stigmatising residents, communities or food vendors in connection with the unverified claim. She advised against forwarding the unverified post, including the names, photographs and alleged addresses contained in it, stressing that a photograph alone cannot confirm diphtheria or any other medical condition. Spreading unverified information can cause unnecessary panic and may harm innocent individuals whose images are used without consent. Dr Fasawe also urged anyone with information that may assist in verifying such claims to share it privately with the FCT Public Health Department or AMAC health authorities rather than circulating unverified information online. She further cautioned against sharing unverified social media claims of Ebola outbreaks, which have also been known to circulate periodically and cause public alarm, and advised residents to rely on official updates from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The Mandate Secretary warned that circulating unverified health claims can heighten anxiety and distract from response activities. In a public health emergency, misinformation can divert attention from real cases, overwhelm health facilities with false alarms, and undermine trust in official institutions. She nevertheless encouraged residents to report suspected illness and public health concerns promptly so that they can be assessed by qualified health workers. The public should not allow the actions of a few individuals spreading false information to discourage them from seeking help when they or their children are sick. Accurate and timely reporting saves lives, while rumour-mongering endangers the community.
Dr Fasawe said the FCT is continuing its surveillance, awareness and community engagement activities, including door-to-door sensitisation, radio jingles and the distribution of information, education and communication materials. These efforts are aimed at increasing awareness of diphtheria, promoting vaccination, and ensuring that suspected cases are detected and treated early. She urged residents to remain calm, follow verified health advice and support the ongoing response. While the viral claim about sliced watermelon has been debunked, the broader need for vigilance remains. Residents experiencing fever, sore throat, neck swelling or difficulty swallowing should seek medical assessment promptly, and those with difficulty breathing should seek urgent medical care. Residents seeking clarification on any health issue should contact the FCT Public Health Department or the NCDC. Public health enquiries and alerts may also be directed to the NCDC toll-free line, 6232. The Mandate Secretary reiterated that the findings of the verification exercise relate only to the specific claim circulating online and do not mean that diphtheria is no longer a threat. The FCT outbreak is ongoing, and the response is being sustained through active surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination promotion and community mobilisation. By working together and relying on verified information, residents can help the FCT authorities sustain the gains made in the diphtheria response and prevent the spread of other infectious diseases. The secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health of all residents and ensuring that accurate information is available to guide public action.