OUTBREAK ALERT: Indonesia To Mass Vaccinate In Order To Contain Diphtheria
Indonesia is seeing an outbreak of diphtheria which is scaring civilians and government officials alike. The disease continues to spread as officials desperately work to contain the bacteria before it becomes a pandemic.
The bacteria that causes diphtheria ravages the human body. It causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and it has so far, infected hundreds in Indonesia. The disease is spreading quickly and not only to regions with limited health service but also to the country’s capital Jakarta, where health services are much better.
Between January and November 2017, the government has recorded 593 diphtheria cases, spread across 95 regencies in 20 provinces. The death toll has reached 32. The World Health Organization data on diphtheria shows that the number of cases in Indonesia has fluctuated since the 1980s. –Medical Xpress
Diphtheria is a life-threatening communicable disease that spreads through air containing Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can lead to breathing difficulties, heart failure, paralysis, and even death if left untreated. The bacteria attacks the upper respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, difficulties in swallowing, and shortness of breath. The bacteria can also spread through spits and coughs and contaminated objects. When they enter the body, they release toxins which spread through the blood and can cause damage to the body system, especially the heart and nervous system. These complications can lead to death.
Since diphtheria is caused by a bacteria, antibiotics are normally a simple and effective treatment if administered in time. But government officials are blaming the outbreak on an “anti-vaccination” movement growing in Indonesia, prompting the mass vaccination of children. Some eight million children and teenagers across the Southeast Asian nation will receive a vaccination in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the disease
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