Public Health Ministry on alert for Diphtheria

…following outbreak in Venezuela

The Public Health Ministry is on alert for Diphtheria following an outbreak in neighbouring Venezuela and is presently adopting preventive measures to reduce the risk of the disease crossing from Venezuela.
The Ministry stated that the outbreak has occurred in San Antonio, Sifontes, Bolivar State, where 17 deaths have been recorded.
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria, which primarily infects the throat and upper airways, and produces a toxin affecting other organs. It is transmitted by having direct contact with a patient, contaminated objects or by sneezing or coughing. Skin lesions can also transmit the infection.
The symptoms include sore throat, fever and adherent membrane over the nose, tonsils, throat, and skin lesions. The diphtheria toxin causes a membrane of dead tissue to build up over the throat and tonsils, making breathing and swallowing difficult. During days 1-3 of infection, persons are likely to notice whitish membrane in the throat while during days 4 to 6, it is likely to change to a greyish colour.
If left untreated, Diphtheria can result in infection of the lungs, heart failure, kidney damage, paralysis, and in some cases, death.
According to the Ministry, the disease can be cured if treatment is started early enough. The most effective way of preventing Diphtheria is through vaccination. DPT vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus.
Although, Guyana has attained over 90 per cent vaccine coverage, there are areas within the interior where coverage is less.
Subsequently, the ministry announced that a multidisciplinary team of health professionals will be targeting villages bordering Venezuela: “The team will provide vaccinations to all vulnerable children and ensure health officers in the regions are on the alert for any probable case.”
The DPT vaccine is highly effective and safe and it is available in all the public health facilities countrywide. Treatment for Diphtheria includes the administration of antibiotics such as erythromycin and penicillin which are available in Guyana.