Khaberni - The Ministry of Health in Algeria has announced two deaths out of 5 confirmed diphtheria cases (croup) in Skikda, eastern Algeria.
The ministry revealed in a statement that the cases involved a 25-year-old foreign national man, and a 12-year-old girl who was not vaccinated against the disease.
It mentioned that immediately upon recording these cases, a crisis unit was formed at the Directorate of Health and Population in Skikda, aimed at closely monitoring the epidemiological situation and taking all necessary preventive and therapeutic measures in coordination with local authorities.
The ministry explained that specialized health services started precise epidemiological investigations concerning the registered cases, involving contact tracing; the contacts were subjected to prophylactic treatment and were vaccinated against diphtheria, with the aim of preventing the spread of the infection and avoiding new cases.
It added that 514 individuals were vaccinated over the past 48 hours, as part of a proactive vaccination campaign, confirming that the epidemiological situation is stable, and the field follow-up continues accurately and daily through enhanced epidemiological surveillance activities at all health structures in the area.
