The Health Ministry has urged parents to ensure that their children receive the complete 5-in-1 antigen vaccines in order to protect them from various diseases including diphtheria infection.

Its director-general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the diphtheria vaccine is contained in the 5-in-1 DTaP-IPV//Hib vaccine to prevent infections such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and haemophilus influenzae type B.

"These (vaccines) are given (to infants) at the age of two, three, five and 18 months. The immunisation coverage of more than 95 per cent in a community will serve as 'herd immunity' and protect the children from being infected with these bacterias.

"Children who had received such a complete immunisation would only suffer from minor symptoms when being infected and (they are) shielded from complications.

"Hence, the reason why the ministry emphasised on the importance of getting their children vaccinated," he said in a statement here yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham said diphtheria is a disease caused by Corynebacterium diphteriae bacteria which is spread through breathing droplets.

The bacteria infects tonsil and larynx, creating a toxin that develops inflammation around the area and a swollen neck which causes difficulty in breathing.

"The toxin can also go into the blood (stream), paralyse the nerve system and cause heart inflammation (myocarditis) which eventually leads to death.

"Diphtheria infection has a high rate for death between 25 and 50 per cent," he said.

On Tuesday, the media reported a seven year-old girl from Ujong Pasir, Melaka died of diphtheria at Melaka Hospital last Saturday.

Dr Noor Hisham said there were two death cases so far due to the infection, including a case in Kedah this morning with both children having not received the complete diphteria vaccination.