Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesiahas launched an immunisation campaign against diphtheria after the disease claimeddozens of lives in the country.
The campaign which runs to weekend aims to immunise eight million children andteenagers, especially in the country’s three most populous localities,including Jakarta capital city, said Indonesian Ministry of Health on December11.
This year, nearly 600 cases have been detected in 95 communities across 20provinces, killing 32 people. The increase of diphtheria cases is due to poorpublic awareness and an anti-vaccination movement, said Indonesia’s healthsector.
Indonesian authorities hope to halt the disease spread before the country hoststhe Asian Games in 2018.
Diphtheria is a bacterial disease that can cause breathing difficulties, heartfailure and paralysis.-VNA