title: Respiratory diphtheria in an asylum seeker from Afghanistan arriving to Finland via Sweden, December 2015.
abstract: In December 2015, an asylum seeker originating from Afghanistan was diagnosed with respiratory diphtheria in Finland. He arrived in Finland from Sweden where he had already been clinically suspected and tested for diphtheria. Corynebacterium diphtheriae was confirmed in Sweden and shown to be genotypically and phenotypically toxigenic. The event highlights the importance of early case detection, rapid communication within the country and internationally as well as preparedness plans of diphtheria antitoxin availability.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Disease Control Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Jussi
authors: J
authors: Sane
authors: Tiina
authors: T
authors: Sorvari
authors: Micael
authors: M
authors: Widerström
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Kauma
authors: Ulla
authors: U
authors: Kaukoniemi
authors: Eveliina
authors: E
authors: Tarkka
authors: Taneli
authors: T
authors: Puumalainen
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Kuusi
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Salminen
authors: Outi
authors: O
authors: Lyytikäinen
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000346:Afghanistan; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000235:genetics; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012036:Refugees; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013548:Sweden; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D015575:Roxithromycin; D002444:Cefuroxime
keywords: Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Finland; Sweden; bacterial infections; clinic; diphtheria; epidemiology; laboratory; travel; vaccines and immunisation