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Diphtheria


Diphtheria in Washington State
The last case of toxigenic diphtheria reported in Washington occurred in 1979. Cases are most often associated with travel as diphtheria is not endemic to Washington.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To alert public health authorities to the presence of C. diphtheria and the possibility of other cases developing in the area, a particular concern given the large number of susceptible adults.
  • To assist in the diagnosis of cases.
  • To assure early and appropriate treatment with diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics.
  • To obtain necessary laboratory specimens before antibiotic or antitoxin treatment.
  • To identify and evaluate contacts and recommend appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent further spread of the disease.

Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Hospitals: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Laboratories: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 2 workdays, specimen submission required
  • Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days

Last update
Oct. 2002

Diphtheria Resources

General Information

Diphtheria
Incidence Rates

(PDF format)

Reporting Forms

Diphtheria
Reporting Form

(Word Format)
Diphtheria
Reporting Form

(PDF Format)

Public Health and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(Web Format)

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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Consultation and technical assistance are available to local health jurisdictions in Washington State:
Phone (206) 418-5500

FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (inside Washington State only)  1-877-539-4344

Washington residents can contact their local health jurisdictions for assistance


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