BBC
Australia has reported its first diphtheria-related death in nearly a decade as the nation confronts a severe outbreak of this vaccine-preventable disease, which is currently the most significant in decades.
In March, the Northern Territory (NT) declared a diphtheria outbreak, with additional cases also identified in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland. The rise in cases began in late 2025, escalating sharply in February.
To date in 2026, Australia has seen 245 cases, representing the largest outbreak since 1991, predominantly affecting remote Indigenous communities.
On Tuesday, the NT Health Minister disclosed that autopsy findings from an overseas laboratory confirmed diphtheria as the cause of a man's death in April at the Royal Darwin Hospital, marking the first such case since 2018.
In light of the outbreak, government vaccination efforts in at-risk areas have intensified, resulting in a decline in new cases, according to health officials on Tuesday.
"Our government is taking this situation very seriously and is diligently working to understand the causes and manage the outbreak," stated NT Health Minister Steve Edgington.
Since March 30, a total of 10,407 vaccinations have been administered, he noted.
From January of last year through May of this year, the NT reported 163 diphtheria cases, which include 48 respiratory cases and 115 cutaneous cases— the latter of which is transmitted through skin contact.
In March, health officials in Western Australia (WA) confirmed two instances of respiratory diphtheria, the first recorded cases of this kind in over 50 years.
Sixty percent of this year's cases are in the Northern Territory, with around 36% in Western Australia, along with a small number of cases in South Australia and fewer still in Queensland.
Authorities are strongly encouraging affected communities to ensure their vaccinations are current, particularly for teenagers and adults who require booster shots.
Health officials in the NT have established pop-up clinics in Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs to promote the vaccination campaign, emphasizing that vaccines are the "most vital measure for preventing, protecting, and reducing transmission," according to NT Health.
Both respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria are preventable through vaccination, which is typically administered to children in five doses from two months to four years old, with a booster required between the ages of 12 and 13.
Respiratory diphtheria commonly begins with symptoms such as fever or chills, a sore throat that can progress to difficulties in breathing and swallowing, and may be life-threatening.
Conversely, cutaneous diphtheria typically manifests as infected sores or ulcers on exposed skin, which heal slowly but generally do not lead to severe illness.
According to the national broadcaster ABC, the last reported death from diphtheria occurred in 2018.
Last week, Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Michael Kidd, labeled diphtheria a communicable disease incident of national significance.
The government has also unveiled a AU$7.2 million initiative aimed at enhancing vaccinations and resources in the impacted regions.
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