Donetsk, Dec 25 - DAN. Diphtheria, a much feared infectious disease might spread to the Donetsk People’s Republic from the neighbouring Ukraine, the DPR Healthcare Ministry warned on Wednesday.
“The DPR is facing a real threat of diphtheria import and outbreak as diphtheria cases were recorded in Ukraine, in particular in the neighbouring Kharkov region and Kiev-controlled areas of the Lugansk region,” the Ministry said in a report.
As of early November, Ukraine had reported 21 diphtheria cases and more than 30 suspected contacts. The World Health Organisation prognosis warns about a possible diphtheria outbreak in the country. The DPR has not recorded a single diphtheria cases for five years.
“Given the ongoing migration of the population, including to Ukraine’s border areas which reported diphtheria cases and a group of susceptible individuals, the epidemic situation in the DPR might worsen in the near future,” the Ministry said.
The DPR health authorities urged residents to call the doctor immediately if they suspected that they might have contacted the disease, and report all recent contacts with the infected. Diphtheria vaccination remains the only reliable preventive measure.
Diphtheria is a dangerous infectious disease that causes inflammation of cuts or abrasions and upper respiratory tract. The most dangerous consequences are general intoxication and toxic damage to the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Diphtheria spreads from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, through food or infected objects. It usually begins with a slight fever and lesion discharges. A grey film developing in the throat is the hallmark sign of the infection. Unlike quinsy, It lacks such symptoms as throat pain and high fever. *jk