Kédougou: Diphtheria outbreak confirmed after investigations into several child deaths

A diphtheria outbreak is underway in the Kédougou region. Three positive cases have been confirmed in the Kédougou and Saraya health districts, while several deaths of children under five years old at the Amath Dansokho Regional Hospital are currently under investigation. The Regional Health Directorate has strengthened surveillance and announced an action plan to contain the disease.

The Kédougou region is facing a worrying health situation. A diphtheria epidemic has been confirmed in the Kédougou and Saraya health districts, following investigations carried out by health services after several deaths recorded among children under five (5) years of age at the Amath Dansokho Regional Hospital.

According to the regional health director, Dr. Ababacar Mbaye, these deaths, some of which date back to 2024, were not immediately attributed to diphtheria. The disease was reportedly difficult to identify due to its unusual clinical presentation.

"We are observing an ongoing epidemic with reported cases of death among children under five years old at the Amath Dansokho Regional Hospital Center in Kédougou," explains the health official.

A disease that is difficult to diagnose

Diagnosis was complicated by the form the disease took in some patients. According to Dr. Mbaye, doctors encountered so-called necrotizing forms of diphtheria, characterized in particular by lesions that can take on a dark color.

"It must be admitted that this disease has been little observed by many generations of doctors. When the plaques become necrotic, instead of being white, they turn black, which can pose diagnostic problems," he points out.

It was following several deaths observed in young children that the hospital's pediatrician raised the alarm and requested thorough investigations.

A sample taken from one of the deceased cases tested positive for diphtheria. This discovery led the Regional Health Directorate to launch a large-scale investigation, with the support of the central services of the Ministry of Health, the Directorate of Prevention, partners, and learned societies.

591 suspected cases screened

A team of experts stayed in Kédougou from August 5 to 11 to assess the extent of the situation.

The investigations focused in particular on the records of the health facilities in the districts concerned, with an analysis covering the period from May to August.

A total of 591 suspected cases have been identified. These include patients presenting with symptoms such as sore throat, tonsillitis, fever, or neck pain.

Samples were then taken from certain contact cases, that is to say people who had been in contact with confirmed or deceased cases.

The results show three positive cases, two in the Saraya health district and one in the Kédougou health district. Seventeen other people tested came back negative.

According to the regional health director, these results confirm the circulation of the disease in the two districts concerned, while also showing that some identified contacts are ultimately not infected.

Positive cases treated in hospital

The three people who tested positive are currently hospitalized and are receiving close monitoring from medical teams, including pediatricians.

Health services have also begun managing contact cases, including those without symptoms, through preventive antibiotic therapy when indicated.

“We are hopeful that with the action plan we have put in place, we will be able to deal with this epidemic,” assures Dr. Ababacar Mbaye.

Vaccination at the heart of the response

The unique aspect of this situation is that diphtheria is a disease that can be prevented through vaccination.

In response to the spread of the disease, health authorities have announced a strengthening of epidemiological surveillance in health posts and centers throughout the region. The goal is to quickly detect suspected cases and prevent patients from arriving at the hospital with complicated symptoms.

The Regional Health Directorate also intends to intensify vaccination operations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where vaccination coverage remains insufficient.

Dr. Mbaye reminds us that properly vaccinated children are protected against diphtheria and calls on parents to have their children's vaccination status checked.

Kédougou under high surveillance

The situation in Kédougou is part of a sub-regional context marked for several years by the resurgence of diphtheria. According to the regional health director, several countries in the sub-region have faced epidemics since 2022, with more than a thousand cases recorded in a country neighboring Senegal.

According to health authorities, the movement of people and goods between the different countries of the sub-region is a factor that promotes the spread of certain infectious diseases.

Hence the decision to strengthen surveillance at different levels of the health pyramid and to accelerate the detection of cases.

For regional health authorities, the message is now clear: the response involves surveillance, early management of cases and above all vaccination.

Parents, particularly mothers and fathers, are therefore encouraged to have their children vaccinated according to the national vaccination schedule in order to protect them against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.