Outbreak of imported diphtheria with Corynebacterium diphtheriae among migrants arriving in Germany, 2022
Franziska Badenschier, Anja Berger, Alexandra Dangel, Annika Sprenger, Bernhard Hobmaier, Claudia Sievers, Henrieke Prins, Achim Dörre, Christiane Wagner-Wiening, Wiebe Külper‐Schiek, Ole Wichmann, Andreas Sing
Abstract
remarkably increased among migrants arriving in Germany. Up to 30 September 2022, 44 cases have been reported to the national public health institute, all laboratory-confirmed, male, and mainly coming from Syria (n = 21) and Afghanistan (n = 17). Phylogeny and available journey information indicate that most cases (n = 19) were infected along the Balkan route. Active case finding, increased laboratory preparedness and epicentre localisation in countries along this route are important.
Topics & Concepts
Corynebacterium diphtheriaeOutbreakDiphtheriaPreparednessPublic healthVeterinary medicineGeographyMedicineVirologyVaccinationPolitical sciencePathologyLawDiphtheria, Corynebacterium, and TetanusClostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens researchMycobacterium research and diagnosis