The US Embassy in Rabat says the risk to Americans remains low but advises residents and visitors to check their vaccination records following a limited diphtheria outbreak.
The U.S. Embassy in Rabat has issued a health alert after Morocco’s health ministry said on 28 September 2026 that it had identified a limited diphtheria outbreak with clusters in several parts of the country. The embassy said Moroccan health teams were tracing contacts, providing preventive treatment and giving vaccines where needed, while stressing that the risk to Americans living in or visiting Morocco remained low because most people from the United States were vaccinated in childhood and many received boosters as adults.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, according to the embassy’s notice. Symptoms can include a sore throat, hoarseness, mild fever, a thick grey or white coating in the throat or nose, swollen neck glands and difficulty swallowing or breathing. The embassy urged anyone with breathing or swallowing problems to seek medical care immediately.
The warning also advised travellers and residents to check their vaccination records, confirm that children have completed routine immunisations and arrange a booster if necessary. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says adults should receive a diphtheria-containing booster every 10 years, usually as Td or Tdap, and that people who are unsure about their status should speak with a health-care provider. The embassy also encouraged Americans in Morocco to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Programme so they can receive security and health updates, and provided emergency contact details for its offices in Rabat and Casablanca.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
