Diphtheria alarm in Karlsruhe: Vaccination saves life after death!
Diphtheria alarm in Karlsruhe: Vaccination saves life after death!
The diphtheria vaccination has been particularly in focus since a tragic incident: a ten-year-old boy from Berlin who was not vaccinated against Diphtherie recently died of the disease. The boy was brought to a clinic in September due to acute throat inflammation and later moved to another Berlin clinic for diphtheria. Despite invasive ventilation, he could no longer be helped. These stunned news have triggered a discussion about the vaccination ratios not only in Berlin, but also in the Karlsruhe region, such as the reported.
The general practitioner Marianne Difflipp-Eppele said shaken about the incident and recalled that Diphtherie used to be a feared childhood disease. The vaccinations that have been available since 1913 led to a drastic decline in diseases. In 2024, 51 cases were reported in Germany, while there were only two cases in 2025. Deady courses like this are extremely rare in Germany; Most recently, a death was registered by skin diphtheria in 2023 and in 2024 one by throat diphtheria in adults.
The importance of diphtheria vaccination
According to the guidelines of the constant vaccination commission (STIKO), diphtheria vaccination for infants, children and adults is recommended as standard vaccination. For full basic immunization, infants should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine, starting at the age of two months. The basic immunization typically includes three cans, followed by refresher vaccinations aged five to six years and other refreshments every ten years, such as the robert Koch Institute explained.
The vaccination rates in Baden-Württemberg show positive tendencies; The basic immunization of beginners is constant about 95%. However, there is also an unreported number of around 2.5% of unvaccinated children in school enrollment. This represents a potential risk for the public. Herd immunity against diphtheria is achieved with a vaccination rate of about 80%, which not only benefits the vaccinated individuals, but also offers protection to the unvaccinated persons.
stood the diphtheria diseases
The diphtheria diseases in Germany have increased in the past 20 years, but the number is at an overall low level. Only one case was reported in 2005, in 2015 there were 14 and around 25 cases before Corona pandemic. A remarkable outbreak occurred in 2022 when 177 cases, mainly skin diphtheria, occurred, especially in refugees. These will be vaccinated in Karlsruhe on arrival to prevent spread, as well as vacpen-info.de informed.
The information on diphtheria vaccination and the current situation are important to protect both one's own health and that of the general public. Unvolled people or those without full vaccination protection should urgently review their vaccination status and, if necessary, catch up with refreshments. In particular, trips to regions where diphtheria is endemic should only be started with current vaccination protection.
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| Ort | Berlin, Deutschland |
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