{
  "id": 11033681,
  "title": "No link between watermelon, diphtheria, FCT dismisses fake health post",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/no-link-between-watermelon-diphtheria-fct-dismisses-fake-health-post-11033681",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T21:34:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/no-link-between-watermelon-diphtheria-fct-dismisses-fake-health-post/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat in Abuja has debunked a viral social media claim that a resident 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 support the claim. The investigation, which included a multidisciplinary Rapid Response Team, failed to locate the alleged victim or establish any link between watermelon consumption and diphtheria.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "No link between watermelon, diphtheria, FCT dismisses fake health post",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/no-link-between-watermelon-diphtheria-fct-dismisses-fake-health-post",
        "published": "2026-09-30T21:20:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}