Diphtheria Outbreak Claims 50 Lives in Somalia

Somalia’s Ministry of Health confirmed a diphtheria outbreak has claimed the lives of 50 children and infected around 1,000 others across the nation. The most vulnerable group has been children aged 5 to 15 years.

In response to the crisis, the Ministry has launched an urgent vaccination campaign, set to begin on December 15 and run for five days. The initiative aims to vaccinate children in all regions, including remote villages, schools, and health facilities.

Authorities are calling on parents to bring their children to vaccination sites, emphasizing the critical need for swift action to control the spread of the disease. The outbreak comes at a time when Somalia is grappling with an ongoing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and climate-related disasters like floods and droughts.