Diphtheria outbreak spreads across Australia with 223 cases confirmed

A major diphtheria outbreak, described by health officials as the worst in decades, has spread from the Northern Territory into Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia, prompting urgent calls for Australians to check their vaccination status. As of recent reporting, there have been 223 confirmed cases nationally, with one death under investigation in the Northern Territory.

The outbreak originated in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, which has recorded 133 cases. It has since spread to Western Australia’s Kimberley region, with 79 cases, and across borders into South Australia and Queensland, which have reported six and five cases respectively. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler stated the situation is serious, noting that almost all cases in the Northern Territory are among Indigenous Australians.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe respiratory illness or skin infections. The respiratory form can lead to a thick membrane forming in the throat, obstructing breathing, while the bacterial toxin can damage the heart, kidneys, and nerves. The disease was a leading cause of child death in Australia until a...