ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an urgent advisory on the alarming increase in diphtheria cases across Pakistan, with Karachi seeing a particularly severe impact. Over 100 deaths have been reported in the city alone, and health officials emphasize the need for immediate preventive actions to curb the spread of this life-threatening disease.
The NIH advisory highlights the elevated risk of diphtheria transmission during the dry and cool season, calling for proactive prevention and control measures by healthcare authorities nationwide.
Diphtheria, caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium, primarily targets the respiratory system, posing risks of severe complications such as respiratory distress and even death if left untreated. It commonly affects the throat and tonsils, but may also impact other body areas, including the skin, eyes, and genitals. Individuals of all ages can be affected, though unimmunized children under five are particularly vulnerable.
In response to the spike in cases, the NIH stresses the importance of ramping up vaccination efforts, as many of the affected children have missed their diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) shots. The advisory warns that diphtheria spreads quickly in crowded, unhygienic conditions often found in urban slums and crowded gatherings, necessitating increased awareness and immunization drives in these areas.
The NIH also urges improved training for healthcare providers to ensure timely diagnosis and management of diphtheria cases, aiming to reduce the disease’s tragic toll and prevent further fatalities.
