Diptheria in Venezuela

On 15 November, WHO reported a total of 511 probable diphtheria cases so far this year (2017). Samples were taken from 452 of the cases (88.5%), of which 146 (32.3%) were laboratory confirmed. The most affected age group is 5 to 39 year olds, with the greatest number of cases being reported among those aged 5 to 19 years (54.3%). Females accounted for the majority of the cases (51%). The confirmed cases were reported in 17 federal entities.

Advice to Travellers

Ensure British Vaccination Schedule complete for all travellers including booster doses as teenagers.

Travellers should be aware of:

• persistence of disease in many regions of the world to which unvaccinated individuals are susceptible
• waning immunity from diphtheria vaccine with increasing age.

When to consider vaccination

Vaccination should be considered under the following circumstances and is dependent on the individual risk assessment:

• Individuals with an incomplete primary vaccination history for diphtheria, irrespective of region of travel.
• Ten-yearly boosters of vaccine should be given for travel to epidemic/endemic areas particularly where individuals will be mixing with the local population (e.g. health workers, teachers, volunteers).

For further information see Diphtheria.