From 27–30 October 2025, Jakarta, Indonesia, hosted a four-day laboratory training workshop aimed at strengthening the national capacity for the timely detection and confirmation of diphtheria cases. Eighteen laboratory professionals from across Indonesia participated in the program, which focused on enhancing skills necessary for rapid diagnosis to support outbreak prevention and public health response.
Diphtheria is a serious infectious disease that can cause severe throat infections, airway obstruction, and complications affecting the heart and nerves. Although preventable through vaccination, sporadic outbreaks still occur in areas with declining immunization coverage, making rapid detection and confirmation critical for treatment, contact tracing, and disease control measures.
The workshop was organized by the WHO Collaborating Centres for Diphtheria at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), in collaboration with Indonesia’s National Health Biology Laboratory, WHO country and regional offices, and the Ministry of Health. It forms part of WHO’s regional initiative to strengthen laboratory networks for the surveillance and control of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Participants received hands-on instruction in isolating and identifying Corynebacterium species, performing bacterial culture and biochemical testing, molecular typing, and detecting diphtheria toxin production. The training also covered biosafety, quality assurance, data reporting, clinical specimen collection, and referral systems. Trainers shared international best practices to ensure reliable and timely diagnosis.
WHO Team Lead Dr Stephen Chacko highlighted the importance of rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis for confirming diphtheria cases and guiding effective public health action. Professors Androulla Efstratiou from UKHSA and Andreas Sing from LGL emphasized that international collaboration and standardized diagnostic approaches are crucial for strengthening regional capacity and global disease surveillance.
The workshop also reinforced the essential role of vaccination in preventing diphtheria. The diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, included in routine childhood immunization schedules, provides long-lasting protection, particularly when followed by booster doses.
Overall, the Jakarta training represents a significant step in WHO’s ongoing efforts to ensure national laboratories in Indonesia and the region are equipped to respond effectively to diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases. By building technical skills and fostering collaboration between international reference centres and national institutions, the initiative strengthens disease surveillance, outbreak response, and community protection.
