Diphtheria in Indonesia

14 Dec 2017

On 12 December 2017 media quoting health authorities in Jakarta  reported an “extraordinary” outbreak of diphtheria this year. Diphtheria cases have increased by 42 percent since 2016 and a vaccination campaign is underway in advance of next year's Asian Games.  There have been more than 590 cases (including 32 deaths) across indonesia, with most occurring in Jakarta and neighbouring areas.

Advice to Travellers

Ensure British Vaccination Schedule complete including booster doses as teenagers.

Travellers should be aware of:

• Persistence of disease in many regions of the world to which unvaccinated individuals are susceptible.
• Waning immunity from diphtheria vaccine with increasing age.
• Ten-yearly boosters of vaccine should be given for travel to epidemic/endemic areas particularly where individuals will be mixing with the local population (e.g. health workers, teachers, volunteers).

For futher information see Diphtheria