• The largest diphtheria outbreak to strike Western Europe in 70 years has been affecting vulnerable people such as migrants and the homeless since 2022, new research revealed on June 4.

• In 2022, there was an unusual surge in the bacteria that causes diphtheria — Corynebacterium diphtheriae — in several European countries, particularly among recently arrived migrants, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• That year 362 cases were recorded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

• By late 2022, rapid response measures helped to mitigate the outbreak. However, recent data from 2025 indicate that at least one of the bacterial strains detected in the 2022 outbreak is also associated with newly reported cases in the region, affecting additional vulnerable groups.

• Ten people died from this disease in the region between 2022 and 2025. Most of them had developed a respiratory form of the disease.

• At the end of April 2025, Germany reported a diphtheria outbreak caused by a Corynebacterium diphtheriae  sequence type that was originally linked to the 2022 outbreak and was also detected in a few cases in 2023. 

• According to the information from Germany, diphtheria cases were reported among people experiencing homelessness, an older adult and an unvaccinated child.

Diphtheria

• Diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by toxin producing bacteria. It can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some people may not develop disease manifestations but can still transmit the bacteria to others. Others will develop mild disease, although severe disease, complications and death can also occur. 

• Diphtheria can affect anyone but is most common in unvaccinated children.

• The diphtheria toxin causes damage to the respiratory tract and can spread throughout the body.

• Symptoms of diphtheria usually begin two-five days after exposure to the bacteria. Typical symptoms of the infection include a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and weakness. Within two-three from infection, the dead tissue in the respiratory tract forms a thick, grey coating that can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils and throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow. 

• Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with diphtheria or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the infection.

• Before the introduction of diphtheria vaccine and widespread vaccination in the 1930s, cases occurred throughout the world.   

• Recently, as a result of under vaccination, outbreaks have been occurring with increasing frequency despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

• WHO recommends a total of 6 diphtheria-containing vaccine doses be given starting at 6 weeks of age through adolescence to provide long term protection.

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