Increase in cases of Diphtheria in Europe particularly among asylum-seekers

Abstract

Diphtheria is a severe infection, with a high mortality rate and affects the upper respiratory tract. Transmission is by direct contact/sneezing/coughing and may lead to myocarditis, peripheral neuropathy, pneumonia or respiratory failure. This watching brief aims to describe the epidemiology of the recent 2022 diphtheria outbreak among migrants in Europe and to identify key factors that aid in future control measures. It was seen that majority of the reported cases were among migrants and adults and the case fatality rate was very low. When adults do not have natural exposure to diphtheria-causing organisms, their immunity induced by childhood immunization wanes and they become susceptible to the disease resulting in epidemiological transmission. Early detection through surveillance and opt treatment reduced the mortality among the infected. Currently, transmission in the local population is low and may be due to increased vaccination coverage among the European populations. Focus must be placed on screening and surveillance for immigrants for vaccine preventable diseases and educating immigrants about the importance of vaccination

Keywords

• diphtheria
• migrants
• europe
• outbreak
• vaccination coverage