Scientists warn diphtheria cases have increased sharply due to small boat crossings.
Researchers said outbreaks across the continent over the past year have been “mostly linked to arriving migrants” – almost all of them from Afghanistan.
Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal, is rare in the UK, with babies and children routinely vaccinated against it since the 1940s.
But unvaccinated people are highly susceptible to the disease, which can cause uncomfortable skin sores, breathing problems and heart damage if not treated with antibiotics.
The report from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases for England uses figures from the British Health Safety Agency and is based on genomic testing of hundreds of cases in ten countries in Europe, including 59 in England.
Scientists warn diphtheria cases have increased sharply due to small boat crossings
It shows how a total of 73 cases of the disease have been registered in England in 2022 – up from 12 cases last year – and one more case has been registered this year.
Most of the patients (97 per cent) were “young Afghan males” under the age of 18 with an “unknown vaccination history” – although the UKHSA notes that this group may be “over-represented” in the population due to “greater clinical awareness and identification of cases”.
About half of those infected (51 percent) had skin problems caused by the disease, including blisters on their legs, feet and hands, and large sores.
About 12 percent had no symptoms, and the disease was detected through screening or contact tracing in those cases.
The authors said: “Associated with an increase in migrants arriving in small boats in the summer of 2022, the UK has seen a sharp increase in cases of diphtheria caused by the toxic Corynebacterium diphtheriae over the past year.”
Speaking of data for Europe as a whole, they said there was “clear transmission among migrants” which they believed occurred “during travel within migrant facilities”. They added that “a lack of adequate vaccinations among the migrant population” is at the root of the outbreaks.
To prevent future outbreaks of diphtheria, the researchers recommended “more awareness among doctors caring for migrants”, “thorough vaccination protocols” and “timely screening of those at risk”.
Most of the patients (97 percent) were “young Afghan men” under the age of 18 (Photo: Health officials treating cases of diphtheria at the Manston Migrant Processing Center)
They added: “Further monitoring of this situation with molecular typing and genomic approaches will be key to determine the source and pathways of this resurgence.”
The research was led by dr. Helena Seth-Smith from the University of Zurich and dr. Sylvain Brisse of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, working with scientists from across Europe, including the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the United Kingdom, two people died of diphtheria in 2021 and one in 2022.
Before vaccination began in the UK, there were 60,000 cases a year with around 4,000 deaths.
The disease made headlines last year after an outbreak was traced to the Manston migrant center in Kent.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
