Diphtheria Resurgence in Morocco
After being absent from the public health radar for over three decades, diphtheria has made a troubling return in Morocco, first surfacing in the Souss region and now spreading to Marrakech. In response to this alarming resurgence, health authorities have intensified their surveillance efforts across the entire country. At the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, the sounds of children’s distress fill the emergency room as young patients struggle to manage oxygen masks, while their mothers are instructed to keep them in place. Medical staff, many of whom had never encountered this diagnosis before, rush between stretchers, as diphtheria previously existed only in medical textbooks for them. The warning signs emerged from Agadir just four days prior.
On September 28th, the Ministry of Health reported two family clusters in Agadir and the neighboring Chtouka Aït Baha province, with one case confirmed through laboratory testing, while eight others remain under investigation. Among those affected are two brothers from Aït Amira, who tragically succumbed to the illness. Six individuals, including five from the same family, were admitted to the Agadir hospital, prompting the vaccination of all medical staff there. According to the Ministry, the sick children had either not been vaccinated against diphtheria or had only received partial vaccinations. Health teams quickly traced all individuals who had been in contact with the patients, providing them with preventive antibiotic treatment and vaccinations.
Health Authorities Mobilize Against the Outbreak
Since the initial reports, diphtheria has continued to spread, now impacting the Marrakech-Safi region. In Youssoufia province, a twelve-year-old girl from the Sidi Chiker area died after being transferred to the hospital, having received no vaccinations. Just two days later, a young man from the same household tested positive for the disease. Similar to the situation in Agadir, the infection predominantly spreads within family circles. Although local health authorities describe the situation as stable, unconfirmed reports of another girl’s death from Safi highlight the difficulties in obtaining accurate data. The lack of official communication has led to rampant rumors, causing many parents to consider keeping their children home from school. Official data suggests that while national vaccination coverage appears to meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards, there are significant gaps in rural areas, allowing the disease to re-emerge.
Epidemiologist Jaafar Heikel emphasizes that the primary cause of this outbreak lies with unvaccinated children or those who have received incomplete vaccinations. "Diphtheria vaccination offers full protection only after a minimum of three doses," he notes, followed by boosters at eighteen months and every five years thereafter. The current situation bears similarities to the recent resurgence of measles in 2023, which followed a decline in vaccination rates attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry cites a global trend of decreased vaccination rates and the spread of misinformation regarding vaccines as contributing factors. In response to this threat, health authorities have expanded active surveillance efforts nationwide, from Tangier to Lagouira.
Heikel details that the protocol involves isolating infected individuals, administering prompt treatment, and identifying their contacts to break the transmission chain, which primarily spreads through respiratory droplets. Family clusters, daycare centers, and schools with vulnerable children are under particular scrutiny from health teams. "When properly vaccinated, there is no risk of transmission; this disease does not spread," Heikel reiterates.
The Ministry is urging parents to check their children's vaccination records and ensure they receive any missed doses, which are available for free at around 3,000 public health centers across the country. The expected bacteriological results for the eight suspected cases will determine whether the spread of Corynebacterium diphtheriae has been effectively contained or if further outbreaks remain to be discovered.
As reported by leseco.ma.
