Somalia: Diphtheria Outbreak - Jul 2025

As of July 2025, Somalia particularly Puntland regions of Mudug, Nugal and Bari were grappling with a sustained and intensifying diphtheria outbreak. The disease, a highly contagious yet vaccine-preventable illness, continues to spread at alarming rates, placing an immense strain on Puntland’s already overstretched healthcare system. A total of 482 confirmed cases with 27 deaths are documented in the 27th Epi-week. In Puntland, schools and IDP camps have emerged as major transmission zones due to high population movement, overcrowding, and lack of vaccination coverage. Notably, 65% of reported cases were unvaccinated, with 24% under five years of age, underscoring significant immunization gaps among the most vulnerable. The most severely affected populations include internally displaced persons (IDPs), pastoralist families, children under five, pregnant women, and the elderly. These groups reside in overcrowded IDP camps, informal settlements, and marginal rural areas, where access to healthcare is either absent or severely disrupted. [...] The current crisis is rooted in events dating back to January 2023, when Puntland first began experiencing a resurgence of diphtheria. (IFRC, 18 Aug 2025)