Diphtheria in Indonesia

On 12 December 2017 media quoting health authorities in Jakarta reported an “extraordinary” outbreak of diphtheria this year. Diphtheria cases have increased by 42 percent since 2016 and a vaccination campaign is underway in advance of next year's Asian Games. There have been more than 590 cases (including 32 deaths) across indonesia, with most occurring in Jakarta and neighbouring areas.

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.