Diphtheria cases in Somalia have surged this year, with over 1,600 reported cases and 87 deaths, according to the country’s National Institute of Health. The sharp rise is attributed to vaccine shortages and reduced aid from the US, which has cut foreign assistance commitments to $149 million for the fiscal year.
The government had struggled to procure enough vaccines due to a global shortage, while aid cuts have made it difficult to distribute the available doses. Somalia’s health minister, Ali Haji Adam, pointed to these issues as major factors contributing to the outbreak.
Hundreds of thousands of children in Somalia remain unvaccinated against diphtheria, making them vulnerable to the disease. The closure of hundreds of health clinics due to foreign aid cuts has exacerbated the problem, with aid group Save the Children stating that this year’s closures have contributed to a doubling in cases of diphtheria and other diseases.
Somalia’s government faces criticism for its limited funding of the health sector, which allocated 4.8% of its budget to health in 2024, down from 8.5% the previous year. The country is now planning to launch a vaccination drive, but no details have been provided on when it will start.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/somalia-faces-diphtheria-surge-amid-vaccine-shortages-aid-cuts-2025-08-19