Diphtheria scare in Malegaon after deaths of two children

Nashik: Two young brothers, aged one and five, died of suspected diphtheria on consecutive days — May 14 and 15 — in Malegaon, prompting the municipal health department to launch emergency screenings and vaccination drives in the area. The boys belonged to a nomadic Madari family from Rajasthan.

The deaths, reported from a cluster of roadside shanties at Chalisgaon Phata on the outskirts of Malegaon city, have raised concerns about low immunisation coverage among migrant populations. In response, the Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) has set up a medical camp to screen residents, administer vaccines and distribute preventive medication.

A senior civic health officer said the clinical presentation pointed to a possible diphtheria-like infection. “The one-year-old child died at home after running a high fever, for which his parents had administered some home remedies. The following day, a local social worker intervened and helped take the second child to the Malegaon General Hospital. However, the five-year-old passed away before treatment could begin or throat swabs could be collected for laboratory investigation,” the officer said.

“Because the children had no history of immunization, and given the symptoms observed before the second child’s death at the hospital, the medical authorities suspect diphtheria to be the cause,” the officer added.

Officials said the siblings belonged to a settlement of around 50 migrant families. During the health camp held Monday, residents were examined and given necessary treatment. Close contacts of the deceased were placed on a two-week antibiotic course. Children under five were administered DPT vaccines, while infants received the Pentavalent vaccine.

Despite the suspected cause, authorities said confirmation is pending. Malegaon deputy mayor Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed said, “The two children died of an infection, but health officials have said that diphtheria is not yet confirmed.”

“We are currently preparing a ward-wise list of unimmunized children across the city so that necessary vaccination drives can be launched immediately,” she added.

Senior civic officials remained largely unavailable for a detailed comment. MMC commissioner Ravindra Jadhav said he was in Mumbai, while attempts to contact the deputy director of health services, Kapil Aher, were unsuccessful.

The incident has underscored gaps in immunisation coverage among transient communities, even as authorities move to contain any potential outbreak.