Unvaccinated 10-Year-Old in Berlin Dies from Rare Diphtheria Case

The boy's death highlights the ongoing risks of declining vaccination rates despite the availability of effective immunizations.

A 10-year-old boy from Brandenburg, Germany, passed away from respiratory diphtheria after months of treatment in Berlin hospitals.
The child was not vaccinated against diphtheria, a preventable bacterial infection that can cause severe respiratory complications and death.
Health officials confirmed another family member contracted diphtheria but experienced only mild symptoms due to prior vaccination.
Diphtheria cases have significantly declined since the introduction of vaccines in 1913, but recent years have seen a drop in vaccination rates in Germany.
Experts warn that decreased immunization levels could lead to the resurgence of rare but dangerous diseases like diphtheria, polio, and measles.