We don't get diphtheria because we are immunized--it's part of the Tetanus immunization (Td = tetanus + diphtheria; Tdap = Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis). It is fortunately rare in the US (about 1 cases per 100 million people; prior to immunizations it was 100,000 cases to 100 million people).
One my first trip to Pestel Dr. Seneque told me about a boy that had died the week prior from Tetanus. That both floored me and angered me.
No one should die (and suffer through) tetanus and diphtheria. The same is true of Diphtheria. They are both very preventable.
The concern with Diphtheria is that it is very contagious. In an under-immunized country such as Haiti there is potential for an epidemic. I just learned that the case-fatality rate is around 5% in kids <5 (and higher in adults). That means, if there are 100 cases of diphtheria, 5 people die. To put it in perspective, seasonal flu has a case-fatality rate of 0.4% (or 4 deaths per 1000 cases).
Please pray that the epidemic would not develop. Pray that God would move in people's hearts to move quickly and seriously. And perhaps, pray that there would be a concerted effort to improve the basic health of Haiti..all of Haiti.
Thanks,
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