U.S. Embassy Issues Health Alert on Diphtheria Outbreak in Morocco
The U.S. Embassy in Morocco has recently released a Level 2 travel advisory concerning a minor diphtheria outbreak that has been detected in several regions of the country. This advisory, issued on October 15, references a statement made by Morocco's Health Ministry in September, which reported the identification of small clusters of diphtheria cases in the Souss-Massa region. The advisory notes that the risk to American citizens remains low, as most individuals would have been vaccinated against diphtheria during childhood and have likely received Td or Tdap booster shots in adulthood.
Despite the low risk, the Embassy encourages Americans traveling to Morocco to review their vaccination records and consult with local healthcare providers about receiving immunizations if necessary. It is particularly important for adults to receive a diphtheria booster every ten years to maintain immunity against this bacterial infection, which can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing.
In September, Morocco's Health Ministry reported two limited family clusters of diphtheria cases, confirming one case and investigating eight others, which included two fatalities. The ministry highlighted that the affected children either had not been vaccinated or had not completed their vaccination schedules. In response to the outbreak, health authorities have urged families to ensure that their children receive all necessary vaccinations, which are available free of charge at public health centers.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
