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Diphtheria: health surveillance in Larache province

This dossier follows diphtheria reports and the health response in Larache province, distinguishing suspected cases, reported confirmations and official figures. Press tallies require comparison with a detailed health bulletin.

Last updated : 2 key moments
Stethoscope on a white background.
Generic medical illustration from 2014, unrelated to the patients. Sprinno, CC0. — Sprinno / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ — 28 février 2014, sans modification.

Where things stand

In comments published by Hespress on 29 October 2026, Moulay Saïd Afif and Tayeb Hamdi urge vaccination-record checks and catch-up doses following reports of diphtheria in Larache and Salé.

Reported information

Diphtheria: doctors urge booster checks after reports from Larache and Salé

In comments published by Hespress on 29 October 2026, Moulay Saïd Afif and Tayeb Hamdi urge vaccination-record checks and catch-up doses following reports of diphtheria in Larache and Salé.

Stethoscope on a white background.
Generic medical illustration from 2014, unrelated to the patients. Sprinno, CC0. — Sprinno / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ — 28 février 2014, sans modification.

The doctors advise families to consult a health professional to determine appropriate catch-up vaccination. Hamdi also calls for greater awareness and access to vaccines.

WHO states that multiple doses and boosters are needed to sustain protection against this bacterial infection. That general information does not establish Moroccan patients’ vaccination status. No new harmonised provincial case count was obtained: this appeal should not be read as an announcement of additional deaths.

Sources 2
Reported information

Diphtheria in Larache: reports describe contact tracing and school vaccination checks

On 28 October 2026, Hespress reported increased contact tracing and vaccination checks in schools across Larache province, following a child’s death attributed to diphtheria.

A stethoscope on a white background.
Generic medical illustration, 2014; unrelated to the patients or hospital. Sprinno, CC0. — Sprinno / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ — 28 février 2014, sans modification.

Citing informed sources, the outlet describes monitoring teams and a dedicated reception area at Lalla Meryem hospital for patients and suspected infections. Medi1 News separately relays local health authorities’ call to check children’s vaccination records.

An update published by Achkayen that day reports, according to its source, that a 21-year-old patient recovered and that laboratory results were still awaited for two children. The reports use different suspected-case counts and categories, preventing a single provincial total from being reconstructed. No detailed health bulletin reconciling those figures was obtained. The death predates this surveillance update and is not presented as a newly established death on 28 October.

Sources 4