Diphtheria outbreak in Africa: It's not just Nigeria, Vaccine rates are abysmal

I recently reported on the large diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria; however, what is much less reported on is the outbreaks of diphtheria in other countries on the African continent. Here is a brief summary:

Image/Faigl.ladislav

According to the Africa CDC, since the beginning of this year, a total of 12,820 cases (7,592 confirmed; 5,228 suspected) and 535 deaths (CFR: 7.1%) of diphtheria have been reported in four African Union (AU) Member States (MS): Algeria: (80 cases, 10 deaths), Guinea (288; 52), Niger (865; 37) and Nigeria (11,587; 436) through the end of September.

In Guinea, cumulatively, 288 cases (14 confirmed; 274 suspected) and 52 deaths (CFR: 18.1%) have been reported from all the four districts in Kankan region: Kankan (12 cases; 11 deaths), Kouroussa (3; 2), Mandian (13; 0) and Siguiri (260; 39).

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Children between 1-4 years account for more than half (51.3%) of the cases. The national routine immunization coverage for the third dose of pentavalent vaccine (which includes diphtheria vaccine) was 47% in 2022.

This low coverage in the region, in a context of large population movements due to mining, drives the outbreak, officials note.

In Niger, 865 cumulative cases (360 confirmed; 505 suspected) and 37 deaths (CFR: 4.3%) have been reported from 14 of 49 districts in Niger. Persons aged between 1-29 years account for 91% of all cases reported.

Thirty-eight percent of the total cases were vaccinated against diphtheria.

In Nigeria, where the largest outbreak has occurred, the vaccination rates were equally abysmal, id not worse. More than 71% of all cases in their outbreak were children between 1-14 years and only 21% of whom were fully vaccinated.

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