By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice last week for the Dominican Republic due to a diphtheria outbreak.
We reported last month that the Dominican Republic has reported 12 confirmed diphtheria cases, including 9 deaths.
In recent years, vaccination against diphtheria in the Dominican Republic has declined and health officials there are now reporting cases of the disease among children throughout the country. People (including travelers) who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against diphtheria are at risk of getting sick.
CDC says all travelers to the Dominican Republic should make sure they are up to date with diphtheria vaccination.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin (poison). Infection can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, kidney failure, paralysis, and even death. CDC recommends infants, children, teens, and adults get vaccinated to prevent diphtheria.
Diphtheria skin infections are more common in tropical areas. They are not usually severe. However, people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against diphtheria can develop serious respiratory diphtheria after touching the skin sores of someone with diphtheria skin infection.
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