It is particularly serious if the breathing muscles are affected. Diphtheria is a very serious infection of the nose and throat. The disease causes problems breathing. Sometimes it causes heart failure and paralysis. Of every 10 people who get diphtheria, one will die from it.
Infected babies are even more likely to die.
Some people carry the germ in their nose and throat without getting sick. The germ is spread through the air from person to person. People who have not had the vaccine may catch the disease. Because of immunization this disease is now very rare in Canada but has caused outbreaks in other countries. You must be immunized to be protected.