Evaluation of the Efficacy of ORI (Outbreak Response Immunization) Against

Diphtheria Outbreak in Blitar City; 5 Years Experience (2014-2019)

Dewi Astasari, William Prayogo Susanto
Pediatric Department, Mardi Waluyo General Hospital, Blitar, Indonesia

ABSTRACT
Background : Diphtheria is a preventable disease which is growing rapidly nowadays. Low
coverage of immunization and decreased the population immunity causes the outbreak. ORI
(Outbreak Response Immunization), as a spesific protection for diphtheria, was then
performed as a response to limit the diphtheria outspread. In this study, we aim to evaluate
the effectiveness of ORI to reduce diphtheria case number and control the outbreak.
Method : Diphtheria surveillance data from 2014-2019 in Blitar was reviewed, consist of the
characteristics of the patient and the amount of subsequent ORI. A diphtheria case was
defined as a respiratory illness, whether tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or laryngitis with an adherent
pharynx or tonsillar pseudomembrane. ORI was initiated in 2016, then diphtheria case until
2016 was grouped into before ORI, the latter were grouped as after ORI.
Result : There were significant decrease of diphtheria case number, from 42 case confirmed
before ORI was initiated to 16 case after ORI was performed (p=0.036). Diphtheria case was
found mostly at school-age children (6-10 years old) either before or after ORI. Before ORI,
diphtheria case affect more to male than female (42vs26), but after ORI, the case number
nearly equal (7vs9).
Conclusion : ORI, as a spesific protection against diphtheria, has an important role to prevent
the spread of diphtheria case in Blitar City..The coverage of ORI must be increased, besides
the immunization program, to recover population of diphtheria.