Emerging Infectious Diseases (Mar 2004)

Imported Cutaneous Diphtheria, United Kingdom

  • Anne-Claire de Benoist,
  • Joanne Margaret White,
  • Androulla Efstratiou,
  • Carole Kelly,
  • Ginder Mann,
  • Bernadette Nazareth,
  • Charles James Irish,
  • Deepti Kumar,
  • Natasha Sarah Crowcroft

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1003.030524
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3
pp. 511 – 513

Abstract

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Cutaneous diphtheria is endemic in tropical countries but unusual in the United Kingdom. Four cases occurred in the United Kingdom within 2 months in 2002. Because cutaneous diphtheria causes outbreaks of both cutaneous and pharyngeal forms, early diagnosis is essential for implementing control measures; high diphtheria vaccination coverage must also be maintained.

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