Morocco’s Health Ministry said Monday it had detected two limited family clusters of diphtheria in Agadir-Ida Outanane and Chtouka-Ait Baha in the Souss-Massa region.
Diphtheria is a contagious, vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that usually affects the throat and upper respiratory tract. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and can produce a toxin that obstructs breathing and damages the heart and nerves in severe cases.
One case has been confirmed by laboratory testing, while eight others remain under investigation and awaiting confirmation, including two people who died. The ministry has not said that the two deaths were confirmed to have been caused by diphtheria.
The children involved had either not been vaccinated against the disease or had not completed the recommended vaccination schedule, according to the ministry.
Rapid-response teams have launched epidemiological investigations, active searches for additional cases and contact tracing. Close contacts are receiving preventive antibiotics and vaccination where required.
The ministry urged parents to check their children’s vaccination records and complete any missing doses, and advised anyone showing suspected symptoms to seek medical care promptly.
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