CURRENT SITUATION AND CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR RESURGENCE OF DIPHTHERIAIN NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET-UNION

Since 1990, an epidemic of diphtheria has spread throughout the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and by 1995 a total of 47 808 cases were reported. During the early stages of the epidemic, a dequate control measures were not taken and vaccine was in short suppl y; possible contributing factors to the spread of the epidemic are the presence of highly susceptible child and adult populations, socioecon omic instability, population movement, and a deteriorating health infr astructure. Although WHO views the epidemic as an international public -health emergency and, together with UNICEF and the International Red Cross, has formulated a strategy to combat the epidemic, the necessary funds have not been made fully available. Current vaccination recomme ndations also need to be reviewed to ensure that population immunity w ill be adequate to prevent any resurgence of diphtheria in Europe and North America.