A teenager has been diagnosed with a form of diphtheria at a centre for asylum seekers in canton Neuchâtel – the latest in a series of diphtheria cases in Switzerland this August.
Medical tests were undertaken on the adolescent in the Boudry asylum centre after he presented suspicious skin symptoms, the Neuchâtel cantonal authorities saidExternal link in a statement on Saturday. He is being treated in hospital, following the confirmation of skin diphtheria. His condition is stable, officials said.
As a preventive measure, the other asylum seekers and members of staff are to be given three days of antibiotic prophylaxis and a booster vaccination. There is no risk to the general population, the authorities stressed.
“In view of other cases in Switzerland, the centre’s staff were careful to diagnose such situations quickly and immediately informed the cantonal doctor,” the statement said.
Other cases
On August 3, the authorities reported eight cases of the more dangerous throat diphtheriaExternal link at an asylum centre in the Swiss capital Bern – the first known cases of this form of the bacterial infection in Switzerland in nearly 40 years. Yesterday another case of throat diphtheriaExternal link was reported at the Federal Asylum Centre in Kreuzlingen, around a week after two cases of the milder skin variant were detected.
Diphtheria of the throat rarely occurs in Western Europe, where children for decades have been vaccinated against the highly contagious bacterial infection.
However, diphtheria is still common in developing countries, according to experts.
The last known case of throat diphtheria in Switzerland was recorded in 1983, according to the Federal Office of Public Health.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cases of diphtheria reported in Switzerland
This content was published on
Several people have been infected with diphtheria at a centre for asylum seekers – the first cases of the infection in Switzerland in nearly 40 years.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.