By NewsDesk @bactiman63
In 2020, there were 80 confirmed cases of diphtheria reported in the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean island country of Haiti accounted for more than 80 percent of the total (66).
In addition, 16 deaths were reported out of the confirmed cases for a 24 percent case-fatality rate.
Among the 66 confirmed cases, 56% were among 6 to 14-year-olds and 23% among 1 to 5-year-olds. Regarding deaths, 9 were among 6 to14-year-olds, 4 were among 1 to 5-year-olds and 3 among 15-year-olds and older.
In 2020, the highest cumulative incidence rates of suspected cases (194) have been reported in the
communes of Mont Organisé (70 cases per 100,000 population), Terrier-Rouge (23 cases per 100,000
population) and Trou du Nord (18 cases per 100,000 population) in the Nord Est Department; and
Pignon (58 cases per 100,000 population)and Port-Margot (14 cases per 100,000 population in the Nord Department.
The vaccination schedule in Haiti includes 3 doses in under 1-year-olds, and 1 booster, which are
administered between 12 and 23 months of age.
The country does not have a national vaccination policy for health personnel.
The country does not meet the 95% goal established in the regional immunization action plan, 15%
of the country’s communes reported ≥95% coverage in 2019 and 34% of the municipalities reported
≥95% coverage in 2020 until September.
Elsewhere in the region, diphtheria cases/deaths were reported from Brazil (2 confirmed cases), the Dominican Republic (3 confirmed cases, including 2 deaths), Peru (4 confirmed cases, including one death) and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (5 confirmed cases, including 2 deaths).
