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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 |
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