WHO team reaches Rajasthan’s Deeg after 7 children die of diphtheria in a month

Deeg district CMHO Vijay Singhal said, "This disease has been prevalent for a long time in this area because of people’s unwillingness to get vaccinated."

Written by Parul Kulshrestha

Jaipur | October 15, 2024 06:57 AM IST

2 min read

Diphtheria affects children from newborns to 16 years of age. The bacteria most commonly infects the respiratory system. (Representative image)

To contain diphtheria outbreak in Deeg district after seven deaths were reported within a month and 24 samples testing positive, teams of the state health department and World Health Organization (WHO) have landed in the district and started vaccination.

Deeg district CMHO Vijay Singhal said, “On September 14, we received information of the first death of a child due to diphtheria in Kaman area. After this, the medical department started screening children in Kaman and surrounding areas. Diphtheria is preventable with vaccination. This disease has been prevalent for a long time in this area because of people’s unwillingness to get vaccinated. There is superstition related to vaccination which the local people believe and do not vaccinate their children. We have tried to convince the locals several times but have faced stiff opposition.”

Singhal further said a number of drives have been organised in the district area but the situation has not improved.

Diphtheria affects children from newborns to 16 years of age. The bacteria most commonly infects the respiratory system. When the bacteria get into and attach to the lining of the respiratory system, it can cause weakness, sore throat, mild fever and swollen glands in the neck.

Also Read | Suspected diphtheria death in Ferozepur; PGI report awaited

The bacteria makes a toxin that kills healthy tissues in the respiratory system. Within two to three days, the dead tissue forms a thick, gray coating that can build up in the throat or nose. Medical experts call this thick, gray coating a “pseudomembrane.” It can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils, voice box, and throat, making it very hard to breathe and swallow. If the toxin gets into the bloodstream, it can cause heart, nerve, and kidney damage.

Symptoms include sore throat, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, skin sores, and weakness.

Treatments include antibiotics and an antitoxin that neutralizes the diphtheria toxin. A vaccine is available.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:

diphtheria Rajasthan respiratory diseases vaccination WHO