The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that the death of a 10-year old girl in Manila was caused by diphteria but assured that necessary steps have been taken to control the spread of the disease. Personnel of the agency’s regional office went to the area for disinfection and distribution of free medicine. Diphteria is a bacterial respiratory infection that could spread through droplet infection or saliva.The health department explained that the disease can be cured with antibiotics. The DOH continues to distribute free vaccines to prevent diseases like diphteria since only 65% to 70% of children in the country have been vaccinated for protection against the disease in the past nine years.
