The French National Reference Center for diphtheria (officially: the NRC for Corynebacteria of the diphtheriae complex; web pages in French) operates under the mandate of Public Health France (Santé publique France). Its missions are to diagnose and characterize potentially toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium ulcerans and related species. In case of detection of the diphtheria toxin gene, we alert public health authorities, who take action to avoid transmission and outbreaks. We also provide advice to medical microbiology laboratories and clinicians in the human and veterinary sectors (companion animals are often infected by C. ulcerans).
More information dedicated to French medical or veterinary microbiologists and clinicians is available on the official NRC website (see above link).