Visiting KwaZulu-Natal during the school holidays? You might want to consider a booster shot before heading to the province. Though there is no official travel advisory relating to the deadly diphtheria outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal, medical experts have recommended that parents ensure all children are up to date with vaccinations.The provincial health department is already vaccinating children at public and private schools in response to the outbreak that has claimed five lives.Doctors have called for parents to ensure children receive the boosters as required by the expanded programme of immunisation [EPI]. They have also advised adults to "top up" on their booster shots.National Institute for Communicable Diseases Centre for Vaccines and Immunology head Dr Melinda Suchard said there were no specific interventions or vaccinations for travellers to the province, but said all children, and adults should always be up to date with routine vaccinations, including booster doses at age six and 12 years."Multiple doses of vaccine are required to ensure long- lasting immunity against diphtheria, which is the reason diphtheria vaccination is included in the routine schedule for infants at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age and later at 18 months, six years and 12 years of age.""If any doses may have been missed, it is never too late to catch up," she said.Catching up is possible by using the 4-in-1 vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio offered by pharmacies and private clinics or by the 2-in-1 vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria offered in state facilities.Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Tokai said the reported 13 suspected cases and five deaths were due to non-adherence to EPI.The health department did not respond to queries on the vaccination programme."This germ produces a toxin that can harm or destroy body tissues and organs. One type of diphtheria affects the throat and sometimes the tonsils. Another type causes ulcers on the skin," said spokesman Desmond Motha...