Diphtheria: Advice for travellers

Original publication date: November 28, 2023

Updated: November 24, 2025

Key points

Diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by bacteria and can be spread from person to person.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated may be at risk of getting diphtheria when visiting a destination where the disease is still widespread.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with diphtheria or spreading it to others. In Canada, the diphtheria vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule.
There is currently a global shortage of diphtheria antitoxin treatment stockpiles. This means that if you get diphtheria while travelling abroad, your access to treatment may be limited.
Diphtheria can be very serious, especially for infants and very young children.

There are diphtheria outbreaks ongoing in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Somalia. The outbreaks are worsened by several callenges:
- low vaccination coverage in affected communities
- multiple disease outbreaks happening at the same time
- shortages of healthcare workers, medicines, and other critical resources
These factors make it harder to prevent the spread of diphtheria and to provide timely treatment for those who become ill.

Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably about 6 weeks before your departure date, to get personalized health advice. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it’s still a worthwhile to make an appointment. Discuss:
- which pre-travel vaccines or medications may be right for you, including the typhoid vaccine
- whether your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Many require a booster as an adult
- the medications you’re currently taking or planning to bring with you
Sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Clean your hands properly
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for 20 seconds or until dry.
- This is especially important before eating and after using the washroom/toilet.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your arm, if you’re not wearing a mask, to reduce the spread of germs.
- If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands immediately afterwards.

Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of diphtheria. Tell them where you’ve been travelling.

Diphtheria is a very contagious bacterial disease.
It can spread quickly from person to person through coughing and sneezing, through contact with skin sores, and less commonly, through contact with contaminated objects.
Diphtheria can be very serious and even deadly, especially for infants and very young children.
The symptoms of diphtheria include:
- sore throat
- swollen neck
- fever and chills
- difficulty breathing
Diphtheria can be prevented with a vaccine.
Diphtheria can be treated with antibiotics as well as with diphtheria antitoxin.

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