Diphtheria outbreak in southwestern Yemen
Health authorities in Al-Waziyah District, in southwestern Yemen, announced an outbreak of the vaccine preventable disease (VPD), diphtheria. To date, four children have been infected, of which two died and the other two are still receiving hospital treatment.
Media official at the Public Health and Population Office in Taiz Governorate, Tayseer Al-Sama’i, said the outbreak is attributed parents' abstention from vaccinating their children against fatal childhood diseases, including diphtheria, which has been linked to rumors and misleading information concerning vaccines.
Al-Sama'i called on parents to get their children vaccinated against deadly childhood diseases— vaccines that are available free of charge within health centers and facilities in Al-Waziyah District, or other neighboring districts.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria that make a toxin. The toxin can cause people to get very sick. Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. People can also get sick from touching open sores or ulcers of people sick with diphtheria.
When the bacteria get into the respiratory system, they can cause sore throat, mild fever, and swollen glands in the neck. The bacteria make a toxin that kills healthy tissues in the respiratory system and can make it difficult to breathe and swallow. The toxin can also cause heart, nerve, and kidney problems if it enters the bloodstream. Skin infections caused by C. diphtheriae typically consist of shallow ulcers (sores) and do not result in severe disease.
For some people, respiratory diphtheria can lead to death. Even with treatment, about 1 in 10 patients with respiratory diphtheria die. Without treatment, up to half of patients can die from the disease.
If you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against diphtheria and may have been exposed, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible.
The US CDC recommends that everyone 2 months and older get vaccinated to protect against diphtheria.