Probable diphtheria

Is probable diphtheria worse than usual anywhere?

Too little to compare in any country this week.

What is probable diphtheria?

A serious infection caused by bacteria, mostly in the nose and throat. The germ makes a poison that can harm the heart and nerves.

Signs
Sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and weakness. A thick grey layer can grow in the throat or nose, making it hard to breathe and swallow.
How it spreads
From person to person through coughs and sneezes. Some people carry the germ without feeling ill and can still pass it on.
How to protect yourself
Vaccination is the best protection: a full set of baby doses, then booster doses in childhood and the teenage years.
Get medical help
Get medical help at once for a sore throat with a grey coating or trouble breathing or swallowing. Early treatment greatly lowers the risk of death.

In Dooram's words, from the World Health Organization. Source: Diphtheria (WHO fact sheet), read 8 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.

When does probable diphtheria usually peak?

  • PakistanAround October: it peaked in November 2024 and September 2025.

What "usual" means.

Sources. Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division, National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, weekly report.