MADRID, October 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) has warned of an increase in diphtheria cases among immigrants in Europe, although it has reported that the risk of transmission among the general population is “very low”.

As of September 26, 2022, 92 cases of diphtheria among immigrants, including one death, have been reported in Austria, Germany, England, Norway, Belgium, France and Switzerland. All the cases were men, mainly from Asia and Africa, and most of them had been diagnosed in immigrant reception centers.

Given the high estimates of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) immunization coverage in European Union countries, which range between 91 percent and 99 percent for the first dose (DTP1), from three doses for complete vaccination, and from 85% to 99% for In the third dose (DTP3), the likelihood that a community-dwelling individual will develop the disease is very low.

However, the possibility of secondary infection in the community cannot be ruled out, and severe clinical diphtheria is possible in unvaccinated or immunocompromised persons. For people who live, work, or volunteer in migrant centers, there is a possibility of being exposed to the diphtheria bacteria.

Exposed people who are not vaccinated or immunocompromised can face serious outcomes following diphtheria infection. However, the impact of the disease on people with a full diphtheria vaccination schedule is considered low.

To reduce the spread of the disease, the agency has called on countries to implement early detection, prevention and treatment measures. To do so, they must verify the diphtheria vaccination status of newly arrived immigrants and provide a diphtheria vaccination booster or full course, as needed.

In addition, it is necessary to isolate confirmed or suspected cases of respiratory diphtheria and apply contact precautions for confirmed or suspected cases of cutaneous diphtheria; and provide information and instructions to doctors, health professionals from immigrant centers and travelers returning from endemic areas for rapid identification and isolation of possible cases, sampling and testing.

Other measures include ensuring that all staff working in immigrant reception centers have their most up-to-date vaccination records; identify, test and monitor close contacts; give prophylactic antibiotics and vaccinations to close contacts; and ask about migration routes, length of stay in migrant camps, or overcrowded accommodation where diphtheria transmission may occur.