Alabama diphtheria outbreak, 1967.

Abstract

AFTER the introduction of diphtheria immunization in the 1920's, there was a decline in the incidence of diphtheria in Alabama parallel to that in the entire United States. However, in recent years, the incidence in Alabama and several other southern States has remained constant or increased (fig. 1). This paper is an analysis of 20 cases of diphtheria reported to the Alabama State Department of Public Health from August 2 through November 20, 1967.