Whole genome sequencing of Corynebacterium isolated from Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided technical assistance during an outbreak of diphtheria among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) in Bangladesh. Isolates of C. diphtheriae were cultured from either throat or nasal swabs of patients and characterized by traditional biochemical and molecular assays to determine biovar and toxigenicity. Isolates of C. pseudodiphtheriticum were also recovered during the outbreak. Whole genome sequencing was performed to further study the poly-clonal nature of this outbreak.