It’s Time for a Diphtheria Update
Where Are the Latest Diphtheria Outbreaks?
It shouldn’t be surprising that we talk about measles so often, as it is much more contagious than other vaccine preventable diseases.
But if you are getting tired of only hearing about measles, we will switch it up and give an update on what is going on with diphtheria these days.
After all, there is a lot going on with diphtheria.
Update on the Diphtheria Outbreak in Australia
Remember that diphtheria outbreak in Australia?
“There is an outbreak of respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria in the Northern Territory of Australia, with 37 cases (4 are respiratory) being reported.”
Northern Territory Department of Health
It has gotten much worse in the past month.
There are now:
17 cases of respiratory diphtheria
60 cases of cutaneous diphtheria
And thanks to early treatment, the case fatality rate in the outbreak has been low.
“One patient reportedly had a life-threatening case and was flown to Perth for treatment.”
Diphtheria outbreak grows in WA
Hopefully it will stay that way and the outbreak will get under control soon before someone dies.
Update on the Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria
Tragically, an ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria continues to get worse.
“Nigeria is grappling with one of its most severe diphtheria epidemics in history, with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reporting 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths as of 22 March 2026 since May 2022 and officially declaring an outbreak in 2023.”
MSF NIGERIA: MSF and Borno State Ministry of Health vaccinated 350,000 children against diphtheria in Maiduguri
A large vaccination drive by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will hopefully help to get their measles epidemic under control though.
Unfortunately, there are also large diphtheria outbreaks in Algeria, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Yemen, Somalia, and South Africa.
Update on the Diphtheria Outbreak in Europe
What about the diphtheria outbreaks in Europe?
“In 2022, Europe experienced the biggest diphtheria outbreak in the region in 70 years, and authors writing yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine have traced the outbreak strain to known migration routes and migrant communities in European countries—and not necessarily to patients’ countries of origin.
Moreover, the authors identify a genetic link between the 2022 strain and an epidemic in Germany this year, suggesting the bacterium that causes the disease is circulating undetected in Western Europe.”
Largest diphtheria outbreak in Europe in 70 years transmitted along migration routes
While the large outbreaks in migrants was controlled, it does seem that diphtheria is still circulating in Europe.
“In September 2024, a school-aged child (P1) presented with clinical signs of tonsillitis to a general practitioner. On the next day, and with clinical deterioration, P1 was admitted to a primary hospital, now presenting with severe tonsillitis, a pseudomembrane and lymph node swelling. P1 was unvaccinated against diphtheria. A nasopharyngeal swab obtained on hospital admission grew C. diphtheriae. The isolate was sent to the GNCLD for toxigenicity testing, where it was named KL3499 and tested toxigenic. Based on the clinical suspicion of diphtheria, the patient received antibiotic therapy with penicillin and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) under intensive care observation and was transferred to a tertiary referral hospital due to severe deterioration of health including cardiac, renal and respiratory involvement requiring invasive ventilation and intensive care. P1 eventually succumbed to the illness in January 2025.”
Autochthonous outbreak of respiratory diphtheria caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Germany, September 2024
Last year, an unvaccinated 10-year-old in Berlin, Germany died after a month battle with diphtheria.
And a few years ago, a 4-year-old in Latvia also died after contracting diphtheria.
“Countries with endemic diphtheria include Asia/Oceania – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Mongolia, Burma (Myanmar), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Yemen; Africa – Algeria, Egypt, and the countries in sub- Saharan region; Americas – Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Haiti; and Europe – Albania and all countries of the former Soviet Union.”
Travel to diphtheria endemic countries
In addition, it is important to understand that diphtheria is still endemic in many countries.
Bottom line - get vaccinated and stay up to date with your DTaP/Tdap vaccines. Diphtheria has not been eradicated and ‘The Strangling Angel’ is not a vaccine preventable disease that you want to get.
Keep on educating. It will soak through to many who need it.