The Moroccan Ministry of Health said on Monday that it had detected two limited family outbreaks of diphtheria, also known as diphtheria, in the cities of Agadir Idoutan and Chtouka Ait Baha.
The disease resulted in two deaths, according to the ministry's statement carried by the country's official news agency, which also stated that "the children involved in these hotspots had not previously been vaccinated against the disease or had not completed the recommended vaccination doses."
She added, "One case has been laboratory-confirmed, while eight cases are under laboratory investigation and confirmation. Other cases are being searched for, and contacts are being identified and tracked."
Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that secrete toxins, and is transmitted through respiratory droplets, according to the World Health Organization. Diphtheria causes damage to the respiratory system and can spread throughout the body. Some people may not show symptoms of the disease, but they can still transmit the bacteria to others. The organization stresses that vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting diphtheria or transmitting it to other people.
The incubation period for the disease extends between two to five days after exposure to the bacteria that causes it. Symptoms of infection include: sore throat, fever, swollen glands in the neck, and weakness. During the few days following infection, dead tissue in the respiratory system forms a thick, gray layer that can cover the tissues in the nose, tonsils, and throat, thus making breathing and swallowing difficult.
Complications resulting from the disease can include inflammation of the heart and nerves, and 30 percent of deaths are among individuals who are not vaccinated against diphtheria and do not receive appropriate treatment for it. Note that children under the age of five are most at risk of death due to the disease.
Diphtheria cases are usually treated with antitoxins, in addition to antibiotics. Diphtheria antitoxins specifically work to neutralize the circulation of toxins in the blood, while antibiotics work to stop the proliferation of bacteria, thus stopping the secretion of toxins, accelerating the process of getting rid of the bacteria, and preventing their transmission to others. The vaccine should also be given to all individuals who have previously had diphtheria after the acute phase of the disease has ended.
Although the World Health Organization confirms that the risk of exposure to complications or death due to it decreases significantly if the necessary treatment is provided early in the infection stage, many of the currently widespread diphtheria strains have shown resistance to some commonly used antimicrobial drugs. As for prevention, the organization says that the most effective way to prevent diphtheria is vaccination, with the necessity of vaccinating children against the disease.
She adds, "Patients suspected of being infected with diphtheria should be isolated and treated with antibiotics and antidote to diphtheria, in addition to giving antibiotics to close contacts of the patient."
Moroccans quickly reacted on social media to monitoring the two limited outbreaks of diphtheria. Calls began to spread to parents to ensure that their children are given the necessary vaccinations or complete the prescribed doses. Through his account on the “X” platform, Azizoun mentions the importance of vaccines that have led to the disappearance of many diseases, warning at the same time that the decline in vaccination rates “opens the door for a return” to these diseases.
