Killer bug sweeping European holiday hotspots this summer - know the symptoms

A killer bug is spreading in popular European holiday spots, promoting health chiefs to warn the public to be on their alert for the symptoms. Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that suffocates its victims by forming a thick grey coat over the throat and tonsils.

More severe cases can lead to a swollen neck and throat, or "bull neck", making it difficult to breathe. In the worst cases, the infection blocks the airways, causes heart failure and damages the nervous system.

The bacteria can infect the skin, inducing pus-filled blisters to appear on the legs, feet and hands. Large ulcers might also appear on the skin.

It is mostly spread through coughs, sneezing and close contact between people.

The bacteria can also be caught from sharing items such as cups, clothing or bedding with an infected person.

At its peak and before the introduction of a vaccine in the 1950s, the disease killed to 4,000 people a year in the UK - the majority of whom were children.

In 2022, Europe experienced a major spike in diphtheria infections, with 320 cases reported for the year. This contrasted to the normal incident rate in the eleven years between 2009-2020 - where an average of 21 infections were observed per year.

So far this year 13 cases have been reported in Europe, promoting health chiefs to urge the public to be on their guard.

Bruno Ciancio - an official at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - called for "better awareness of symptoms, quick diagnosis and prompt public health action" to help stop the disease from spreading.

According to the NHS, symptoms usually start two to five days after becoming infected.

These include a thick grey-white coating that may cover the back of your throat, nose and tongue; a high temperature; sore throat; wwollen glands in your neck; difficulty breathing and swallowing; pus-filled blisters on your legs, feet and hands; large ulcers surrounded by red, sore-looking skin.