The province of Skikda is experiencing anxiety after the announcement on Thursday of a death caused by diphtheria. This resurgence of a disease once believed to be eradicated has immediately placed the region on high public health alert.
The local health authority released a statement confirming the fatality and reported several other infections, some of which are classified as “serious.”
Diphtheria: The “Silent” Threat Returns in Algeria
Once controlled through vaccination campaigns, diphtheria—caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae—is now resurging and causing concern among the public. Health officials are warning citizens not to ignore early symptoms: a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and severe fatigue.
What is most alarming is how quickly the infection can progress. Diphtheria is known as a “silent” illness in its initial stages because it produces a potent toxin that can cause severe cardiac complications (myocarditis) and neurological damage. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the disease can be fatal. Mortality rates among untreated cases range from 5% to 10%, underlining the seriousness of this bacterial infection.
Prevention: The Critical Role of Vaccination
In response, authorities are unified in their message: vaccination is the only truly effective defense.
The Skikda Health Directorate is urgently urging all residents to go “immediately” to vaccination centers. The message highlights two key priorities:
“For adults: Get the required booster dose (the DTP/DT vaccine should be given as a booster every ten years). For children: Ensure that all vaccinations are up to date according to the national immunization schedule.”
Residents of Skikda and Filfila communities are named as priority areas for this catch-up vaccination campaign.
Recognizing the Signs of Diphtheria
Diphtheria is usually spread through respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing) and is marked by the formation of a thick, gray membrane in the throat, which can cause suffocation. When the bacteria are infected by a bacteriophage, they produce a toxin that targets the heart and nervous system.
Treatment is a race against time and requires rapid intervention, including the immediate use of antitoxin upon suspicion, followed by antibiotics to eradicate the bacteria. Community-wide mobilization is essential to halt this resurgence and prevent more lives from being lost to this “disease of the past.” *Vaccination remains, as ever, the frontline defense in public health.
