The confirmation of a diphtheria case at Koottayi, near Tirur, in the district has shocked the health authorities as they strive hard to eradicate the deadly disease by bringing about an immunisation cover.
A 12-year-old boy from Koottayi was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, with throat pain and other symptoms on Monday. He was confirmed to have contracted diphtheria on Tuesday. Health officials said that he had skipped the recent vaccination drive against diphtheria.
Hospital authorities said that the child had taken the first dose of the tetanus and diphtheria (TD) vaccine two years ago. However, he did not follow it up with the booster dose.
District Reproductive Child Health (RCH) Officer and District Deputy Medical Officer R. Renuka told The Hindu that it was a clear case of failed immunity because of missing the booster doses. “At least three doses are needed for a child to acquire immunity against diphtheria,” Dr. Renuka said.
The resurfacing of five diphtheria cases in different parts of the district in September this year had woken up the health authorities to the people’s resistance to immunisation.
About 35 per cent of children below 15 years of age were found to have missed immunisation against major killer diseases, including diphtheria.
Although the health department had launched an all-out attempt to bring the children of different age groups into the immunisation net, it did not succeed largely because of a campaign unleashed by the anti-vaccine lobby.
“We are shocked by the Koottayi case. We will monitor the neighbourhood and distribute medicines and vaccines. All children at the Koottayi school will be monitored, and those who have not been immunised will be given TD vaccines,” said Dr. Renuka.
