Diphtheria antitoxin levels in the Netherlands: a population-based study

In a population-based study in the Netherlands, diphtheria antitoxin antibo dies were measured with a toxin-binding inhibition assay in 9,134 sera from the general population and religious communities refusing vaccination. The Dutch immunization program appears to induce long-term protection against diphtheria. However, a substantial number of adults born before the program was introduced had no protective diphtheria antibody levels. Although herd immunity seems adequate, long-term population protection cannot be assured . As more than 60% of orthodox reformed persons have antibody levels lower than 0.01 IU/ml, introduction of diphtheria into religious communities refu sing vaccination may constitute a danger of spread of the bacterium.