WHO African Area Well being Emergency Scenario Report -country Outbreak of Diphtheria, Consolidated Regional Scenario Report # 006 – As of January 14, 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 14 January, 2024, a cumulative whole of 27 991 suspected instances of diphtheria leading to 828 fatalities have been reported throughout Nigeria, Guinea, Niger, Mauritania, and South Africa. Nigeria is essentially the most severely affected, accounting for 80.1% of instances and 72 % of deaths.

• Latest epidemiological traits reveal a notable surge in weekly instances in Guinea, with greater than 200 suspected instances per week and geographical growth, contrasting with a decline noticed within the remaining affected international locations. The escalating and spreading case numbers in Guinea make the scenario regarding, highlighting the necessity for a complete and multifaceted strategy to successfully tackle this rising public well being problem. Moreover, Mauritania has not reported any new instances since Epidemiological Week 44/2023, and the diphtheria outbreak in Pollsmoor Jail,
  Western Cape Province, South Africa, has been efficiently contained. The South African NICD laboratory lately recognized toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae in samples from Cameroon.

• Solely 24% of documented instances are totally vaccinated, greater than 70% of suspected instances are underneath the age of 15, and females represent over 61% of the instances.

• WHO is actively supporting the affected international locations in strengthening response coordination, bolstering testing and case identification, and facilitating the mobilization of acceptable antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) for case remedy. Efforts are additionally underway to reinforce vaccine protection.

• Member States are strongly urged to reinforce surveillance efforts for vaccine-preventable illnesses and actively promote each entry to and the uptake of vaccines.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UPDATE

• As of 14 January 2024, a complete of 27 991 diphtheria suspected instances and 828 deaths have been reported from Nigeria, Guinea, Niger, Mauritania, and South Africa. Amongst these suspected instances, 18 540 (66.2%) have been confirmed both by laboratory testing (585), epidemiological linkage (707) or by scientific compatibility (17 248). A complete of 70% of the suspected instances contain 1 to 14-year-old kids, 60% of suspected instances are feminine, and solely 24% are totally vaccinated. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of the diphtheria outbreak, emphasizing the necessity for focused interventions.
  Emphasis ought to be positioned on strategic vaccination approaches and particular concerns tailor-made to completely different age teams.

• Desk 1. Variety of whole suspected and confirmed instances and deaths reported by international locations inside the WHO Africa area, as of 14 January 2024