| epidemic diphtheria in ukraine, 1991-1997. | in 1991, ukraine experienced a return of epidemic diphtheria after decades of control that had resulted in <40 sporadic cases reported every year. increased incidence was first recorded in kiev, lviv, and odessa. by 1993, the epidemic had spread to >50% of the oblasts (provinces) in the country, and by 1995, all regions were affected. in 1995, at the peak of the epidemic, >5,000 cases and >200 deaths were reported. as in russia, >80% of these cases were diagnosed in persons 16-59 years old. in 1 ... | 2000 | 10657188 |