Australia is grappling with its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, with nearly 220 cases reported, primarily in the Northern Territory. The bacterial infection, once nearly eradicated due to widespread vaccination in the 1930s, has resurged amid falling immunisation rates.
Most cases are concentrated in the Northern Territory (133), Western Australia (79), South Australia (6), and Queensland (5). Almost all cases involve Indigenous Australians, prompting health authorities to collaborate with Aboriginal agencies to boost vaccination coverage.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler described the outbreak as the largest recorded in 35 years, noting that about 25% of cases require hospitalisation. The government is finalising a support package including more vaccines and a surge workforce, working closely with the Northern Territory government and Aboriginal-controlled health services.
Health authorities are investigating a suspected diphtheria death, which would be the first fatality from the disease in nearly a decade. Immunisation expert Milena Dalton warned that the outbreak highlights how quickly vaccine-preventable diseases can re-emerge due to immunisation gaps.
Diphtheria spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated objects. Symptoms include a thick grey-white coating in the throat, fever, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. Cutaneous diphtheria can cause pus-filled blisters and ulcers on the skin.
