Attention all friends! !
According to the latest reports,
a case of diphtheria has appeared in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in a century!
, a virus that may kill infected people, has reappeared in our lives in Australia.
Picture source: news
It is reported that a two-year-old child who has not been vaccinated against diphtheria, (Australia’s largest Internet celebrity Douyin account "Micro Sydney" will show you all the interesting things about life in Australia! Study abroad, travel and immigrate Must-have! Please search "Wei Sydney" on Douyin, we are waiting for you!)
is receiving intensive care in a hospital in northern Queensland.
According to North Coast Public Health, the child was treated with antibiotics, respiratory support and diphtheria antitoxin, and
his family and close contacts were given post-exposure prophylaxis, which promptly stopped the risk of wider community transmission.
Source: news
This is the first case of diphtheria found in New South Wales in the past century.
Some milder forms of the infection were also recorded during this period.
"Diptheria is very rare in Australia due to our long-term childhood vaccination program.
However, the disease has very serious consequences and can be fatal," North Coast Public Health Director Dr Paul Douglas said.
Source: news
He pointed out that diphtheria vaccination is free and easily available to everyone over the age of 6 weeks.
Dr. Douglas asked families to know their children's vaccination status,
and make sure they are up to date on the required vaccines.
Source: news
The New South Wales Ministry of Health said diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that can be life-threatening.
It was a common cause of death in children until the 1940s.
Now it mainly occurs in countries with low vaccination levels.
It is usually spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Sometimes, this bacteria can be spread through close contact with secretions from the mouth, nose, throat, or skin of an infected person, but this is rare.
Source: news
Without antibiotic treatment, people are often contagious for up to four weeks from the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms depend on the site of infection, with the most severe disease affecting the throat and tonsils .
· It started with a sore throat, loss of appetite, and a slight fever.
· Within two or three days, a gray-white film will form on the throat and tonsils, making it difficult to swallow and breathe, and the neck may also swell.
· The toxin formed by diphtheria bacteria can also cause inflammation of the heart muscle and nerves,
This may lead to death in 5 to 10 percent of infected people.
· Sometimes it can also cause small skin ulcers to form into large ulcers, usually on the legs.
Source: news
Diphtheria vaccine is given at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age, and further booster vaccination is required at 4 and 15 years of age.
According to the Australian Childhood Immunization Register,
As of last year, more than 90 per cent of Australian children under the age of six were fully immunized.
Picture source: news
Since this virus is usually spread through respiratory droplets, (Australia’s largest Internet celebrity Douyin account "Micro Sydney" will show you all the interesting things about life in Australia! A must for studying abroad, traveling and immigrating! Please Search "Micro Sydney" on Douyin, we are waiting for you here!)
Then it proves that wearing a mask is protective.
The editor here recommends that everyone try to wear a mask in public places
to protect yourself. , protect others.
