Not medical advice. This site is general information only. In an emergency call your local emergency number. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.
Diphtheria
About Diphtheria
Called the strangling angel of children. A membrane forms in the throat, slowly suffocating victims. Iditarod dog sled race commemorates a 1925 serum run to Nome. Antitoxin was developed in 1891. Vaccination made it rare in countries with high coverage.
Related Diseases
Smallpox
Eradicated in 1980, the only human disease ever eliminated. Killed an estimated 300-500 million peop...
Bubonic Plague
The Black Death killed 75-200 million people in the 14th century, 30-60% of Europe. Plague doctors w...
Spanish Flu
Infected 500 million people, one-third of the world population. Estimates of deaths range from about...
COVID-19
First identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Declared a pandemic March 11, 2020. Over 770 mill...