Health workers are racing to contain the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. And the World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is a public health emergency of international concern. Meanwhile in the country, Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak in decades has spread across Northern Territory into Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, with more than 230 (as of May 21) cases of the disease reported so far this year. Experts say the re-emergence of the disease exposes serious gaps in the public health system. The Australian Medical Association says a decline in childhood vaccination rates is contributing to the re-emergence of this disease.
Epidemiologist Dr dr Dicky Budiman is an internationally recognized global health security and pandemic preparedness expert, who is also who is affiliated with Griffith University in Brisbane and Yarsi University in Jakarta.
He believes that while Ebola virus is a deadly virus but the chance to spread to another continent is very small. In the case of diphtheria, to prevent the spread of this disease we need to be able to identify the symptoms.
While diphtheria has a specific symptoms, in general it is similar to the symptoms of common flu. Therefore, seeking GP’s advice is recommended.
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