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| Credit WHO |
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Just over a week ago, in WHO: Diphtheria Spreading Rapidly In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, we looked at the growing health crisis among Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar (Burma). Relatively rare in the western world, in places where vaccination rates are low, Diphtheria remains a substantial public health threat - particularly to children.
While we normally just hear about sporadic cases, FluTrackers is has recently been following reports of a sizable outbreak in Indonesia (see Indonesia: 2017 Diphtheria) and earlier this year there were reports of an outbreak in Venezuela.As recently as 30 years ago, 100,000 cases were reported globally each year, but over the last decade that number has dropped to about 5,000. According to UNICEF, in recent years India and Madagascar have accounted for 84% of the world's cases.
Late yesterday the WHO posted the following update and risk assessment on the Cox's Bazar outbreak.
Diphtheria – Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh
Disease outbreak news
13 December 2017
From 3 November 2017 through 12 December 2017, a total of 804 suspected diphtheria cases including 15 deaths were reported among the displaced Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar (Figure 1). The first suspected case was reported on 10 November 2017 by a clinic of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Cox’s Bazar.
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières
Of the suspected cases, 73% are younger than 15 years of age and 60% females (the sex for one percent cases was not reported). Fourteen of 15 deaths reported among suspected diphtheria cases were children younger than 15 years of age. To date, no cases of diphtheria have been reported from local communities.
Public health response
Since August 2017, more than 646 000 people from neighbouring Myanmar have gathered in densely populated camps and temporary settlements with poor access to clean water, sanitation and health services. A multi-agency diphtheria task force, led by the Ministry of Health Family Welfare of Bangladesh, has been providing clinical and public health services to the displaced population. WHO has mobilized US$ 3 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to support essential health services in Bangladesh.
WHO is working with health authorities to provide tetanus diphtheria (Td) vaccines for children aged seven to 15 years, as well as pentavalent vaccines (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) for children aged six weeks to six years. A list of essential medicines and required supplies to support the response is being finalized by WHO and partners.The Serum Institute of India has donated 300 000 doses of pentavalent vaccines for use in the response.
WHO risk assessment
The current outbreak in Cox’s Bazar is evolving rapidly. To date, all suspected cases have occurred among the displaced Rohingya population, who are living in temporary settlements with difficult and crowded conditions. The coverage of diphtheria toxoid containing vaccines among the displaced Rohingya population is difficult to estimate, although diphtheria outbreaks are an indication of low overall population vaccination coverage. Available vaccination data for Bangladesh indicates that the coverage of diphtheria toxoid containing vaccines is high. However, spillover into the local population cannot be ruled out. WHO considers the risk at the national level to be moderate and low at the regional and global levels.
WHO advice
WHO recommends timely clinical management of suspected diphtheria cases that is consistent with WHO guidelines consisting of diphtheria antitoxin, appropriate antibiotics and implementation of infection prevention and control measures. High-risk populations such as young children, close contacts of diphtheria cases, and health workers should be vaccinated on priority basis. A coordinated response and community engagement can reduce the risk of further transmission and help to control the outbreak.
