In countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region diphtheria continues to occur in the form of localized outbreaks. In 2010, 154 cases of diphtheria were reported in the Region. These occurred in Islamic Republic of Iran (106), Iraq (2), Pakistan (37), Sudan (1), United Arab Emirates (1) and Yemen (7). In 2008 it was estimated that diphtheria was responsible of 475 deaths in countries of this Region.