Morocco diphtheria resurgence and vaccination efforts

Following a confirmed case of diphtheria in the Souss-Massa region in late September, the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection has urged families to ensure children complete all doses required by the national immunization schedule.

While reports indicated supply shortages for certain diphtheria-containing vaccines in the private sector, health authorities emphasized that vaccines remain widely available and free of charge through the public health system. The Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products noted that approximately 90 percent of vaccinations are conducted via public facilities, which maintain sufficient stocks. Authorities are working to release additional batches to the private sector to meet demand and are monitoring the situation to prevent the spread of preventable diseases.

As the situation evolves, security services in Rabat have initiated a large-scale vaccination campaign for employees to mitigate infection risks in professional environments involving public contact. This follows the reappearance of diphtheria in Morocco after more than three decades of absence.

Health developments have also been reported in Salé, where the deaths of two children from the same family prompted interventions including contact tracing and preventive treatments. Recent data indicates a broader resurgence, with 25 suspected cases identified in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region across seven provinces, including the death of a child in Ksar El Kebir. Previous reports from the Souss-Massa region, specifically in Agadir Ida-Outanane and Chtouka Ait Baha, indicated that family clusters primarily affected unvaccinated children.