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A case of diphtheria has been reported in a federal asylum center in Embrach (ZH).
Keystone-SDA
A case of diphtheria has been detected at the federal asylum center in Embrach (ZH). One person has been hospitalized, the cantonal public health department told Keystone-ATS on Monday.
This content was published on November 3, 2025 - 5:44 PM
(Keystone-ATS) All individuals who had contact with the infected person are currently receiving preventative antibiotic treatment. Vaccination is being offered to residents of the center and unvaccinated staff members, he added.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and considered to be virtually eradicated in Switzerland. However, several asylum centers have reported cases of this disease since 2022.
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Published November 3, 2025, 3:49 PM
"Exterminated":
Highly infectious diphtheria outbreak in asylum center in Embrach, Zurich
A diphtheria outbreak has occurred at the federal asylum center in Embrach, Zurich; a person from Somalia has tested positive. The disease had actually been virtually eradicated in Switzerland through vaccination.
Céline Trachsel
Sebastian Richter
That's what it's about
A diphtheria outbreak occurred at the federal asylum center in Embrach, Zurich.
A person from Somalia has been diagnosed with diphtheria.
Many asylum seekers and staff are therefore being tested.
Diphtheria is considered to be virtually eradicated in Switzerland.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infectious disease that can be fatal. It often begins with a sore throat, fever, and a grayish-white coating in the throat. The bacterium produces a potent toxin that destroys cells. This toxin can attack the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Images of affected individuals can be disturbing.
The disease, which is transmitted through droplet infection, is actually considered virtually eradicated in this country – children are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria. For unvaccinated individuals, diphtheria can be fatal without appropriate treatment, according to...WHO In up to 30 percent of cases, the disease is fatal, with young children having a particularly high risk of death. Treatment significantly reduces the risk of death.
Diphtheria confirmed in a person from Somalia
"There is currently one confirmed case of pharyngeal diphtheria at the federal asylum center in Embrach," the Zurich cantonal health department informed 20 Minuten on Monday afternoon. The infected person is from Somalia. All contacts are now receiving antibiotic prophylaxis.
"Symptomatic individuals are being tested and isolated. All unvaccinated contacts are being offered vaccination, as are all contacts whose last diphtheria vaccination was more than five years ago," according to the Health Directorate. Symptomatic individuals will also receive a nasopharyngeal swab and, if present, a wound swab for diphtheria. Additionally, a transfer freeze is in effect for the Embrach Emergency Medical Center (EMT) until the end of the week.
Vaccination protects against disease
A highly effective vaccine protects against diphtheria. It should be administered to children at two, four, and twelve months of age, as well as between four and seven and eleven and fifteen years of age, as recommended by theFederal Officewrites on his homepage.
Additional booster vaccinations are recommended at ages 25, 45, and 65 (i.e., every 20 years) and subsequently every ten years. Depending on age, the diphtheria vaccination is recommended in combination with vaccinations against tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B.
Diphtheria is widespread globally, but has largely disappeared in industrialized countries thanks to widespread vaccination.
This is how the SEM expresses itself
Earlier on Monday morning, Nicolas Cerclé, media spokesman for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), told 20 Minuten that there was currently no quarantine in the federal asylum center Embrach, but that a case of cutaneous diphtheria had been confirmed.
The pending laboratory results will determine further measures, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) stated this morning. A vaccination campaign is also planned if the results are positive.
------------------------------------
See also:
Hat tip Shiloh:
Somalia: 2025 Diphtheria
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/emerging-diseases-other-health-threats-alphabetical-a-thru-h/childhood-diseases/1018033-somalia-2025-diphtheria
A case of diphtheria has been reported in a federal asylum center in Embrach (ZH).
Keystone-SDA
A case of diphtheria has been detected at the federal asylum center in Embrach (ZH). One person has been hospitalized, the cantonal public health department told Keystone-ATS on Monday.
This content was published on November 3, 2025 - 5:44 PM
(Keystone-ATS) All individuals who had contact with the infected person are currently receiving preventative antibiotic treatment. Vaccination is being offered to residents of the center and unvaccinated staff members, he added.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and considered to be virtually eradicated in Switzerland. However, several asylum centers have reported cases of this disease since 2022.
-----------------------------------------------------
Published November 3, 2025, 3:49 PM
"Exterminated":
Highly infectious diphtheria outbreak in asylum center in Embrach, Zurich
A diphtheria outbreak has occurred at the federal asylum center in Embrach, Zurich; a person from Somalia has tested positive. The disease had actually been virtually eradicated in Switzerland through vaccination.
Céline Trachsel
Sebastian Richter
That's what it's about
A diphtheria outbreak occurred at the federal asylum center in Embrach, Zurich.
A person from Somalia has been diagnosed with diphtheria.
Many asylum seekers and staff are therefore being tested.
Diphtheria is considered to be virtually eradicated in Switzerland.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infectious disease that can be fatal. It often begins with a sore throat, fever, and a grayish-white coating in the throat. The bacterium produces a potent toxin that destroys cells. This toxin can attack the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Images of affected individuals can be disturbing.
The disease, which is transmitted through droplet infection, is actually considered virtually eradicated in this country – children are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria. For unvaccinated individuals, diphtheria can be fatal without appropriate treatment, according to...WHO In up to 30 percent of cases, the disease is fatal, with young children having a particularly high risk of death. Treatment significantly reduces the risk of death.
Diphtheria confirmed in a person from Somalia
"There is currently one confirmed case of pharyngeal diphtheria at the federal asylum center in Embrach," the Zurich cantonal health department informed 20 Minuten on Monday afternoon. The infected person is from Somalia. All contacts are now receiving antibiotic prophylaxis.
"Symptomatic individuals are being tested and isolated. All unvaccinated contacts are being offered vaccination, as are all contacts whose last diphtheria vaccination was more than five years ago," according to the Health Directorate. Symptomatic individuals will also receive a nasopharyngeal swab and, if present, a wound swab for diphtheria. Additionally, a transfer freeze is in effect for the Embrach Emergency Medical Center (EMT) until the end of the week.
Vaccination protects against disease
A highly effective vaccine protects against diphtheria. It should be administered to children at two, four, and twelve months of age, as well as between four and seven and eleven and fifteen years of age, as recommended by theFederal Officewrites on his homepage.
Additional booster vaccinations are recommended at ages 25, 45, and 65 (i.e., every 20 years) and subsequently every ten years. Depending on age, the diphtheria vaccination is recommended in combination with vaccinations against tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B.
Diphtheria is widespread globally, but has largely disappeared in industrialized countries thanks to widespread vaccination.
This is how the SEM expresses itself
Earlier on Monday morning, Nicolas Cerclé, media spokesman for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), told 20 Minuten that there was currently no quarantine in the federal asylum center Embrach, but that a case of cutaneous diphtheria had been confirmed.
The pending laboratory results will determine further measures, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) stated this morning. A vaccination campaign is also planned if the results are positive.
------------------------------------
See also:
Hat tip Shiloh:
Somalia: 2025 Diphtheria
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/emerging-diseases-other-health-threats-alphabetical-a-thru-h/childhood-diseases/1018033-somalia-2025-diphtheria
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