Diphtheria, re-emerging infections and human migration
Tracks
Meeting Room 1.61 - 1.62
| Wednesday, July 2, 2025 |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM |
Overview
Speaker: Dr Arifa Parker
Speaker
Dr Arifa Parker
ICAN/Stellenbosch University/Tygerberg Hospital
Diphtheria, re-emerging infections and human migration
Abstract
Context and Rationale: Vaccine preventable infections, such as diphtheria are re-emerging in various parts of the world, and human migration is contributing to spread of these infections.
Approach: A description of the clinical features, impact and the current global scenario of diphtheria outbreaks and re-emerging vaccine preventable infections. The focus will be on human migration, international travel and forced displacement.
Results: Factors contributing to the resurgence, along with proposed solutions will be explored. Lack of awareness of healthcare workers, especially where these infections are not commonly seen can lead to delayed treatment and diagnosis with unnecessary morbidity and mortality.
Conclusions: The re-emergence of diphtheria is a global public health concern. Vaccination is essential.
Approach: A description of the clinical features, impact and the current global scenario of diphtheria outbreaks and re-emerging vaccine preventable infections. The focus will be on human migration, international travel and forced displacement.
Results: Factors contributing to the resurgence, along with proposed solutions will be explored. Lack of awareness of healthcare workers, especially where these infections are not commonly seen can lead to delayed treatment and diagnosis with unnecessary morbidity and mortality.
Conclusions: The re-emergence of diphtheria is a global public health concern. Vaccination is essential.
Biography
Arifa Parker is a physician and infectious diseases specialist and is the head of the Unit for Infection Prevention and Control (UIPC) at Tygerberg Hospital/Stellenbosch University. She received a Discovery Foundation sub-specialist award in 2013. She completed her PhD in 2023, and her research interests include IPC, AMS, outbreak response & interplay between infectious disease and non-communicable diseases. She is the current president of the Infectious Diseases Society of Southern Africa, a 2023 Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) International Ambassador and is an Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) board member. Her interests are infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and the relationships between infections and non-communicable diseases.
