Lessons from Diphtheria Outbreak

Kompas/Handining

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The declaration of the current diphtheria outbreak as an “extraordinary occurrence” is quite worrying. According to the latest newspaper reports, the extraordinary occurrence of diphtheria has been declared in at least 20 provinces.

The Health Ministry has recorded 561 cases of diphtheria and 32 deaths from the disease as of November. This disease is quite dangerous, because it is a serious bacterial infection that causes respiratory problems and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).