Publications

The WHO African Region is grappling with a resurgence of diphtheria, a rare and deadly disease, with five active outbreaks currently ongoing in Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and South Africa. Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan have been identified as the most vulnerable countries to the disease, raising concerns about potential disease transmission. Despite significant progress in access to health care, many Member States have historically had insufficient vaccination coverage against diphtheria, which was further reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO aims to understand the risks of other Member States and prioritize outbreak-preventive measures.

To address these issues and in accordance with its mandate to provide guidance to Member States on health policy matters, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) has developed a comprehensive guideline for public health preparedness and response to diphtheria outbreaks. This document provides updated operational recommendations that have been reviewed by subject-matter experts and are based on available evidence systematically assessed for quality using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology and field experience (from the Western Pacific Region, for example). This technical guide focuses on key response pillars as well as readiness for vulnerable countries, addresses potential disease transmission and provides guidance on health policy matters for Member States.