Diphtheria in Yemen (Update 1)

On 22 December 2017 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 333 suspected cases of diphtheria (including 35 deaths) in Yemen from 13 August to 21 december 2017. Cases are reported from 20 Governorates.

Previous reports said most cases were identified in Ibb Governorate with the rest being reported from Abyan, Aden, Aljawf, Ameran, Dhamar, Hajjah, Mareb, Sadaah and Taiz.

Advice to Travellers

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