South Africa has two confirmed cases of Diphtheria.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
detected the two cases in a child in the Western Cape and an adult in
KwaZulu-Natal in April.
PICTURE: PixabayDiphtheria is an uncommon, but vaccine preventable serious
infection caused by a toxin producing bacterium called Corynebacterium
diphtheria.
“The bacteria spreads from person to person, usually
through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing," says Foster
Mohale, National health Department spokesperson.
The toxin may lead to difficulty in breathing, heart rhythm
problems, and even death. The symptoms of diphtheria include sore throat (with
the formation of a membrane on the tonsil and throat), and swollen glands in
the front of the neck. Close contacts of known cases are at increased risk of
infection.
Mohale says parents need to get their children vaccinated.
“Routine diphtheria vaccination is part of the childhood
vaccine programme and parents are encouraged to get their children vaccinated.
“The vaccine should be given to all children as part of the
routine vaccines in the first year of life. Booster doses at the age of 6 and
12 years should also be given. Catch-up vaccination is possible if doses have
been missed.”
Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla, says there is no reason
for panic, but the NICD warned of more cases, following a drop in vaccine
coverage (likely due to the pandemic) ‘’and that C. diphtheriae may be
circulating undetected in other provinces.’’
‘’Diphtheria antitoxin is in short supply globally; the
World Health Organization is working to secure additional supplies of
antitoxin. Treatment in the absence of anti-toxin is appropriate antibiotics
and supportive care,’’ it added.
Done By: Mitchum George
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