Diphtheria in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Over the last three weeks in Pakistan, 19 suspected cases of diphtheria, including 6 deaths were reported. Of these, 15 cases including 5 deaths were reported from seven districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK] province while 5 cases including 1 death were reported from one district in Sindh province. The age of cases ranged between 10 months to 10 years, half of the cases were over 6 years. The reported cases did not have any history of vaccination against DPT. No case has yet been laboratoryconfirmed. Based on clinical diagnosis, appropriate public health measures like case management, contact tracing and prophylactic treatment of the close contacts have been initiated to contain the spread of the disease