In Austria, as in all of Europe, an increase in diphtheria is currently being registered. According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 17 cases have been confirmed so far this year and one person has died as a result of the disease.
Being a potentially dangerous disease, diphtheria vaccination has been available to all children in Austria as part of the free childhood vaccination program for over 20 years. Both the basic vaccination in childhood and the booster vaccination in the seventh to ninth year of life are offered as free combination vaccination.
Diphtheria is caused by venom of toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacterium is transmitted through droplets and close contact. According to the WHO, the risk of spreading the pathogen increases in closed and crowded spaces. The clinical picture can vary from a local infection (nose, throat, laryngeal diphtheria) to an infection of the respiratory tract to severe toxic forms with damage to the heart muscle, kidneys or liver.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
