In the United States, 57 cases were reported between 1980 and 2004.
The Diphtheria Virus
diphtheria
Balto saved Nome in 1925
Yes, Balto was a real sled dog that helped deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska in 1925 during a diphtheria outbreak. Balto and his team ran the final leg of the journey and became famous for their heroic efforts.
Diphtheria has been around for thousands of years. Hippocrates was the first to describe it in the fifth century. In the 1880s, F. Loffler discovered it was caused by a bacteria and sometime in the 1920s a vaccine was produced.
Helicopters were developed and built during the first half-century of flight, with the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 being the first operational helicopter in 1936.
Like many other upper respiratory diseases, diphtheria is most likely to break out during the winter months. At one time it was a major childhood killer, but it is now rare in developed countries because of widespread immunization.
People You Know - 1925 was released on: USA: 10 March 1925
The famous diphtheria outbreak of 1925 in Nome, Alaska captured the nation's attention when the life-saving antitoxin was rushed to the remote town overland by dog-sled. It was dubbed the "great Race of Mercy" and was the inspiration for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race held each March since 1973.
His People was created in 1925.
The Best People - 1925 was released on: USA: 20 October 1925 (New York City, New York) USA: 9 November 1925 Portugal: 28 June 1928
There are many such commemorations including a statue in New York's Central Park of Balto, the sled dog that was partially responsible for delivering the serum.