Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned, Saturday, that “it is urgent to reinforce the fight against diphtheria, with access to treatment and vaccination, to prevent more deaths” from the disease in West Africa, after months of fighting the “worst outbreak ” on the mainland.
“Nigeria, where the first diphtheria patients were confirmed in December 2022, is experiencing the largest outbreak. But it is not the only country facing the disease: Algeria, the Republic of Guinea, Mauritania and Niger have also reported cases of diphtheria and Doctors Without Borders medical teams in several other West African countries treated patients with symptoms characteristic of the disease”, highlights the organization in a statement.
Protection against diphtheria, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, is generally provided through routine vaccination programs. However, in many countries, these routine vaccination programs have been severely affected by a lack of funding. and priority. “The numerous measles outbreaks we have seen in recent years have been a clear warning sign that routine vaccination has not reached all children.”