A CASE of highly-contagious disease diphtheria has been confirmed at a UK school with parents warned to take caution.
Health officials confirmed one person had tested positive for the deadly bacterial infection at Wigmore Primary School in Luton.
GettyA case of diphtheria was confirmed at a school in Luton[/caption]
Specialists from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) East of England told The Sun they were aware of the case and have taken action.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease which is very rare in the UK, primarily because infants are routinely jabbed against it.
UKHSA said they were working closely with local and national partners to ensure all necessary public health measures are implemented.
The government agency said they have “conducted a risk assessment” and close contacts of the case have been identified.
UKHSA added that vaccination and advice will be given to prevent the spread of the infection.
However, health experts stressed that the risk of onward transmission and to the wider community is low.
In a letter to parents seen by The Sun, Wigmore Primary School confirmed the Diphtheria case.
They said that the individual “has been on treatment and is recovering well”.
The school maintained that risk to children was “low” but they were sending out the information as a precaution.
And they urged anyone who thought they or someone close to them had the infection to “seek urgent medical attention”.
Dr Sultan Salimee, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at UKHSA East of England said: “Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat. Infections of diphtheria are rare in England because most people have been immunised against it.
“The individual concerned has been treated and is recovering well. The risk to the wider public is very low.
“If any close contacts are not fully vaccinated against diphtheria, their vaccinations should be boosted. Completing the course of vaccinations remains the most effective way for people to protect themselves against becoming ill with diphtheria.”
Over the past decade, the number of cases in England has climbed from an average of two to 11 per year, excluding 2020.
Diphtheria is a serious and highly contagious infection spread by cough, sneezes or close contact.
It was one of the major causes of death during in the Victorian times but is now relatively rare because children have been routinely vaccinated since the 1940s.
However, the number of teenagers receiving the preventative jab fell by seven per cent per cent last year.
Those who are unvaccinated are highly susceptible to the bug, which can also cause nasty ulcers on the skin, if it’s not treated with antibiotics.
Since 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a rise in cases in places such as Indonesia, India, South American and Africa.
Wigmore Primary School have not responded to request for comment.
The 7 symptoms of diphtheria you need to know:
SIGNS of the serious illness usually start two to five days after you become infected.
The NHS says the key symptoms include:
a thick grey-white coating that may cover the back of your throat, nose and tongue
a high temperature (fever)
sore throat
swollen glands in your neck
difficulty breathing and swallowing
pus-filled blisters on your legs, feet and hands
large ulcers surrounded by red, sore looking skin
Since 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a rise in cases in places such as Indonesia, India, South American and Africa.
It’s spread by coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected.
You can, however, also get it from sharing items such as cups, clothing or bedding with an infected person.