Diphtheria outbreak in the Kankan region, Guinea, Vaccination coverage 'chronically low'
Diphtheria outbreak in the Kankan region, Guinea, Vaccination coverage 'chronically low'
Since July 4 this year, the West African country of Guinea has reported a total of 538 cases of diphtheria in the Kankan region, in the east-central part of the country.
Of the total cases reported, 520 are suspected and 18 confirmed with 58 deaths including 13 among confirmed cases (case fatality rate (CFR) among all cases, 11%).
Young children, ages 1-4, account for the largest proportion of reported cases.
Kankan Region is divided into five prefectures and only the Kérouané prefecture has not reported any cases to date.
The prefecture of Siguiri is the most affected, with 510 cases (95%). Of the 363 patients admitted to the treatment centers in Siguiri, 37 (10%) have died.
The chronically low vaccination coverage in Guinea has been the main factor in the outbreak.
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According to WHO/UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC), the immunization coverage with the diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis (DTP3) containing vaccine was reported to be 47% for 2022 in Guinea and has remained below 50% since 2014. This is insufficient for achieving the coverage of 80–85% required to maintain community protection.
And in the affected region, it’s 36% according to the survey coverage in households, 2023.
Other factors contributing to the outbreak and the high case-fatality include increasing population, insufficient poorly qualified health personnel and the limited material resources of the health system (diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) supply is limited).
The World Health Organization (WHO) says vaccination is vital to preventing cases and outbreaks, and adequate clinical management involves administering diphtheria anti-toxin to neutralize the toxin and antibiotics reducing complications and mortality.
Elsewhere in Africa, the Africa CDC reports a total of nearly 16,000 confirmed and suspected diphtheria cases and more than 560 deaths (CFR: ~3.5%) since the beginning of the year in four countries (African Union Member States) including Guinea—Algeria (80 cases, 10 deaths), Niger (865; 37) and Nigeria (14,482; 545).