Elementary school student diagnosed with diphtheria in Medicine Hat

MEDICINE HAT – An elementary school student in Medicine Hat, Alta., has been diagnosed with a rare, potentially fatal bacterial disease called diphtheria.

Health officials say the Elm Street School student had not been travelling outside Canada and is not known to have been in contact with anyone else diagnosed with the disease.

Officials say diphtheria is treatable with antibiotics and preventable through immunization.

Alberta Health Services says the child has not required hospitalization.