The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed two cases of diphtheria in two different provinces.
According to the NICD, the first case was of an adult in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the second was of an infant in the Western Cape, both cases were detected in April.
NICD’s Professor Anne von Gottberg, said the symptoms of the disease include a sore throat.
“Two laboratory-confirmed cases of diphtheria disease were detected in April 2023. The first case was an adult in KwaZulu-Natal and the second case was in the Western Cape in a child. Diphtheria is an uncommon, but vaccine-preventable serious infection caused by a toxin-producing bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheria. The toxin may lead to difficulty in breathing, heart rhythm problems and even death.
“The bacteria spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. The symptoms of diphtheria include sore throat with the formation of a membrane on the tonsil and throat and swollen glands in the front of the neck. Close contacts of known cases are at increased risk of infection.
“Laboratories are encouraged to screen all throat swabs for diphtheria and send all confirmed cases to the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Disease.
“Routine diphtheria vaccination is part of the childhood vaccine program and parents are encouraged to get their children vaccinated. The vaccine should be given to all children as part of the routine vaccines in the first year of life. Booster doses at the age of 6 and 12 years should also be given. Catch-up vaccination is possible if doses have been missed,” she said.
The Department of Health Minister Dr Joe Phahla has called for vigilance and appealed to community members not to panic.
The Department of Health spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said that currently there was a shortage of supply for Diphtheria antitoxin globally, but the World Health Organization (WHO) was working around the clock to ensure its availability.
“Diphtheria antitoxin is in short supply globally, however, the World Health Organization is working to secure additional supplies of antitoxin. Treatment in the absence of antitoxin is appropriate antibiotics and supportive care. These cases are a reminder that a drop in vaccine coverage may lead to more cases.
“All parents are urged to make sure that their children are up to date for routine vaccines. Children who are not up to date for vaccines should be taken to the nearest clinic for vaccination. Clinicians including primary health care nurses throughout the country have been urged to have a high index of suspicion for diphtheria, and to notify suspected cases and to send specimens to the laboratory for testing,” Mohale said.
