| respiratory diphtheria caused by corynebacterium ulcerans--terre haute, indiana, 1996. | diphtheria is a potentially severe illness; among unvaccinated persons, the case-fatality rate may be 5%-10%, even with appropriate treatment. during 1990-1995, approximately 4000 deaths resulted from the ongoing diphtheria epidemic in the former soviet union. in the united states, respiratory diphtheria is rare: during 1980-1995, only 41 cases were reported. serologic studies in the 1970s and 1980s indicated that 20%-60% of u.s. adults aged > or = 20 years lacked immunity to diphtheria. this re ... | 1997 | 9132587 |