By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

Local media in Edinburgh, Scotland are reporting that two people have been admitted to a local hospital being treated for diphtheria.

Scotland map/CIA

This has been confirmed by NHS Lothian.

According to officials, they both recently returned from overseas travel.

Vaccination rates in the Lothian area are high, health officials note.

Alison McCallum, director of public health for NHS Lothian, said: “All close contacts of these patients have been identified, contacted and followed up in line with nationally agreed guidelines.

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection of respiratory system which can cause mild to severe illness. Symptoms, develop 2 – 5 days after infection, include fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands in the neck. Severe illness presents with swollen neck and thick gray or white patch of dead tissue in the throat and tonsils caused by the bacterial toxin.

Complications are blocking of the airway and absorption of the toxin into the blood stream that may cause damage to the heart, kidneys and peripheral nerves and thus can lead to death. The severely ill patient must visit a hospital for a special medical care immediately to save life.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV

Diphtheria is spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, from coughing, sneezing and close contact. A person can also get infected by contacting with shared utensils contaminated with the bacteria. Some mild cases can transmit the bacteria to people around them. Recovered patients might not develop immunity against the disease.

The best way to prevent diphtheria is to get vaccinated.