General awareness
Some people in the settlements are currently suffering from diphtheria. Diphtheria is a disease that causes severe swelling of the nose and throat. It is very easy to catch the disease, if someone close to you has already got it.
Symptoms and care-seeking
The symptoms of diphtheria are:
- Fever (body feels warm)
- Sore throat
- Hoarseness of voice
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing or sneezing
- Swelling of neck
- Thick, grey coating formed in the nose, throat and tongue
If you, one of your family or anybody in your neighbourhood is unwell with any of the symptoms, then immediately take them to the nearest health facility.
Prevention
Diphtheria is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes close to someone else. So it’s important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, to help stop spreading the disease. If possible, use a tissue or a cloth, rather than your hand, or sneeze or cough into your elbow. You can also protect yourself and your family from getting sick by washing your hands frequently with soap and water. Washing your hands after you have coughed or sneezed is important.
Vaccination
People who have been vaccinated against diphtheria are very unlikely to catch the disease. The vaccine is now available in your area / the vaccine will be available in your area [tomorrow / on Tuesday / …]. The vaccine is being provided first to babies and young children, because they are the ones who are most at risk. If your child is less than two years old, it’s important that you take them to be vaccinated.
OR
People who have been vaccinated against diphtheria are very unlikely to catch the disease. The vaccine is now available in your area / the vaccine will be available in your area [tomorrow / on Tuesday / …]. The vaccine is now being provided to children up to seven years old. If your child is less than seven years old, it’s important that you take them to be vaccinated.
The diphtheria vaccine is different from other types of vaccines – so it’s important to take your child even if they have already been vaccinated for cholera or any other type of disease.
The vaccination is available at [place] at [time]. The vaccination is free. If you have any questions or worries about the vaccination, the health worker will be able to answer them when you go to get the vaccination.
Isolation
Diphtheria is very easy to catch, because it is spread through the air, from coughs and sneezes. So, when someone has diphtheria, it’s important that they don’t accidentally pass on the disease to other people – particularly small babies, pregnant women and others who might get sick. It’s also important that people with the disease get good medical care.
For those reasons, people with diphtheria are being asked to move to a different area of the settlement for a short time. While they are away, the doctors and other medical experts will be looking after them carefully. And as soon as they are better, they will be able to go back to their house.
By moving to a different place for a short time, the people with diphtheria will get better care and will be helping to protect other members of the community who might catch the disease from them. Any treatment that they need is free; and no-one will have to pay to be moved to a different place in this way.
One attendant will be able go with a person who is moving to a different place – usually, this will be a parent or a family member. The attendant will need to take some medicine, to protect them from getting sick themselves. There is only space for one attendant to accompany each patient and it will not be possible for anyone else to visit, in order to reduce the risk of more people getting sick. The attendant will be able to keep the rest of the family updated about the situation. If a member of your family is moving in this way, then the health workers will explain everything to you and let you know about the arrangements for the patient and the attendant.
Further variants of audio messages (including shorter versions), along with additional guidance, are available at: https://app.box.com/s/chdm0ac8frscp3eh1ua6z0y4e4wixgmt