Since the beginning of July 2023, epidemiological week 26, four West African countries, and one Southern Africa country in the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) have recorded an unusual increase in cases of diphtheria.
The affected countries during epidemiology week 45 (06 –12 November 2023), were Nigeria, Niger, Guinea,
Mauritania, and South Africa. Nigeria accounts for most cases within the Africa Region with 83.0% of all cases and 73.3% of deaths as of epidemiological week 45.
WHO is supporting the five countries to enhance their response coordination, testing, and case identification as well as to mobilize the appropriate antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT), for treating cases.
Catch-up vaccination campaigns with a diphtheria-containing vaccine are being planned in Guinea and Niger and ongoing in Nigeria. Most of the cases are children and young adults who are not fully vaccinated.
Nigeria, Niger, and Guinea have routine vaccination coverage of 62%, 50%, and 47% respectively. Urgent action is needed to reach unvaccinated children and implement catch-up strategies for recommended 85%
Source link : https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/who-african-region-health-emergency-situation-report-multi-country-outbreak-diphtheria-consolidated-regional-situation-report-003-november-12-2023
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Publish date : 2023-12-04 08:00:00
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