A review of the current diphtheria outbreaks

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is responsible for both endemic and epidemic diphtheria. The predisposing factor for this disease is the failure to immunize during childhood. Humans are the only hosts of the organism and is present in the upper respiratory tract. The organism is transmitted via airborne route and can cause respiratory obstruction and heart failure because of the exotoxin it produces. There is presently a resurgence of diphtheria outbreaks in Nigeria. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was notified of suspected diphtheria outbreaks in Lagos and Kano States, Nigeria, in December 2022 and has been issuing monthly reports since that time. This review of the diphtheria outbreaks following online database searches on PubMed and Google Scholar as well as the NCDC/WHO websites and grey literatures, describes the current trend of the outbreaks globally, elucidated the different strains of Corynebacterium responsible for the outbreaks, identified the recent vaccine formulation developed to tackle the outbreaks, and provide information on vaccine delivery and efficacy studies in the country and globally.

National EPI coverage survey report in Ethiopia, 2006

Background: Routine EPI reports have shown an upward trend in immunization coverage in recent years in Ethiopia; however; regional disparities exist. Objective: To determine regional coverage of child and TT immunization and assess reasons for not utilizing immunization services. Methods: The revised 2005 WHO-EPI regional coverage cluster survey method was used to determine the sample size for the study. Regional immunization status of 12-23 months of children and mothers with 0-11 months of infants forchild immunization and TT immunization respectively were taken as the unit of analysis. A sample of 6;903 children between 12-23 months and 6;952 mothers with infants between 0-11 months from 468 clusters in 11 regions of the country were surveyed in June 2006. Results: The weighted national immunization coverage assessed by card plus history for children aged 12-23 months vaccinated before the age of one year was BCG 83.4; DPT1 84.3; DPT3 66.0; measles 54.3; and fully immunized children 49.9. The weighted national TT2+ coverage and rate of Protection at Birth (PAB) assessed by card plus history was 75.6and 63.0respectively. Conclusion: The survey showed a 10 percentage point of increment in DPT3 coverage compared to 2001 survey coverage. However; progress was not uniform in all regions of the country. Despite the improve-ment in the access to immunization in the country; DPT3 coverage was less than 30and dropout rate remained very high in three emerging regions. Effective behavioral change communication (BCC) strategies need to be designed and implemented to tackle high dropout rate in the program. Besides; health workers training program on interpersonal communication and Reaching Every District (RED) approach should be fully implemented to increase and sustain high level of immunization coverage in Ethiopia

Some facts on child survival and some ways to achieve it

Provides the reader some information on diseases which are a major cause of death and suffering of children within the 0-4 age group