Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Australia Reports Diphtheria Outbreak In Almost 50 Years: What You Need to Know

Australia reports Diphtheria Outbreak In Almost 50 Years: What You Need to Know

Almost 50 years after being eradicated, the vaccine-preventable <span>diphtheria</span> is causing infections in Australia. 

The country’s health officials have reported outbreaks of diphtheria in the Northern Territory (NT) and <span>Western Australia</span> (WA). 

As per the latest NT CDC report on April 22, 17 cases of respiratory diphtheria have been notified since 23 March 2026, and 60 cases of cutaneous diphtheria, which affects the skin, have been reported since May 2025. 

As per figures published on WA’s notifiable disease dashboard in April, 34 cases have been reported in the state so far this year, including 29 in the Kimberley, two each in the Goldfields and Pilbara regions, as well as one case registered in metro Perth. 

In the region, diphtheria cases have more than tripled since December 2025. The cases range in age profile, from 0–4 years to a resident aged 70–74. 

Five of the initial reported cases were cutaneous, while two were respiratory, the first such cases to be notified in the state for more than 50 years. 

"Clinicians are advised to be vigilant for patients presenting with clinically suspicious skin sores, infected wounds, or upper respiratory illness in or from the Kimberley, and potentially the Pilbara or Goldfields regions," the alert reads. Cases have also been found in Queensland (2) and South Australia (1) this year. 

In response to the rising cases, the government has launched a contact tracing system, and at-risk people are being supported to get booster vaccinations, a State Government spokesperson told the ABC. One patient reportedly had a life-threatening case and was flown to Perth for treatment. 

<h2>What Is Diphtheria? Why The Infection Is Rising in Australia After Five Decades </h2>

As per the WHO, Diphtheria is a disease caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and, less often, the skin. It also produces a toxin that damages the heart and the nerves. While it is a vaccine-preventable disease, multiple doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity. 

Diphtheria has remained a leading cause of childhood death globally. But vaccination has long prevented mortality among children. 

Those who are not immunized remain at risk. WHO also mentions that diphtheria can be fatal in 30 per cent of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying if they are unvaccinated and are not receiving proper treatment. 

In 2023, an estimated 84 per cent of children worldwide received the recommended 3 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccine during infancy, leaving 16 per cent with no or incomplete coverage. 

According to Australia’s Department of Health, between 1926 and 1935, more than 4,000 Australians died from diphtheria. Vaccination started in Australia in the 1930s, and the disease has rarely been seen since the 1950s. But vaccine coverage has waned since the COVID pandemic, leading to a rising number of cases. 

<strong>Read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/indigenous-td-vaccine-rollout-in-india-to-boost-immunity-in-children-adults-say-experts-article-153684384" data-type="tilCustomLink">Indigenous Td Vaccine Rollout In India To Boost Immunity In Children, Adults, Say Experts</a>

Within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms include 

<ul><li>a sore throat, </li><li>fever, </li><li>swollen neck glands, </li><li>weakness.</li></ul>The dead tissue in the respiratory tracts forms a thick, grey coating that can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils, and throat, which makes it difficult to breathe and swallow.

Severe cases happen as a result of the diphtheria toxin and its effects. 

<h2>Diphtheria: How the Disease Is Treated </h2>

It is usually treated with diphtheria antitoxin as well as antibiotics. Antitoxin neutralizes the circulating toxin in the blood. Antibiotics stop bacterial replication and thereby toxin production, speed up getting rid of the bacteria, and prevent transmission to others. 

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/bill-to-ban-smoking-for-people-born-after-2008-cleared-by-uk-parliament-article-154130028" data-type="tilCustomLink">UK Parliament Bans Smoking For People Born After 2008: Know All About It</a> <h2></h2>

Diphtheria can be prevented by vaccines and routine immunization. The vaccine is given most often combined with vaccines for diseases such as tetanus, pertussis, Hemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, and inactivated polio.

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Almost 50 years after being eradicated, the vaccine-preventable diphtheria is causing infections in Australia. The country’s health officials have reported outbreaks of diphtheria in the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia (WA). As per the latest NT CDC report on April 22, 17 cases of respiratory diphtheria have been notified since 23 March 2026, and 60 cases of cutaneous diphtheria, which affects the skin, have been reported since May 2025.  As per figures published on WA’s notifiable disease dashboard in April, 34 cases have been reported in the state so far this year, including 29 in the Kimberley, two each in the Goldfields and Pilbara regions, as well as one case registered in metro Perth.  In the region, diphtheria cases have more than tripled since December 2025. The cases range in age profile, from 0–4 years to a resident aged 70–74.  Five of the initial reported cases were cutaneous, while two were respiratory, the first such cases to be notified in the state for more than 50 years. "Clinicians are advised to be vigilant for patients presenting with clinically suspicious skin sores, infected wounds, or upper respiratory illness in or from the Kimberley, and potentially the Pilbara or Goldfields regions," the alert reads. Cases have also been found in Queensland (2) and South Australia (1) this year. In response to the rising cases, the government has launched a contact tracing system, and at-risk people are being supported to get booster vaccinations, a State Government spokesperson told the ABC. One patient reportedly had a life-threatening case and was flown to Perth for treatment.  What Is Diphtheria? Why The Infection Is Rising in Australia After Five Decades As per the WHO, Diphtheria is a disease caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and, less often, the skin. It also produces a toxin that damages the heart and the nerves. While it is a vaccine-preventable disease, multiple doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity. Diphtheria has remained a leading cause of childhood death globally. But vaccination has long prevented mortality among children. Those who are not immunized remain at risk. WHO also mentions that diphtheria can be fatal in 30 per cent of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying if they are unvaccinated and are not receiving proper treatment.  In 2023, an estimated 84 per cent of children worldwide received the recommended 3 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccine during infancy, leaving 16 per cent with no or incomplete coverage.  According to Australia’s Department of Health, between 1926 and 1935, more than 4,000 Australians died from diphtheria. Vaccination started in Australia in the 1930s, and the disease has rarely been seen since the 1950s. But vaccine coverage has waned since the COVID pandemic, leading to a rising number of cases. Read: Indigenous Td Vaccine Rollout In India To Boost Immunity In Children, Adults, Say ExpertsDiphtheria: Signs And Symptoms Within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms include a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, weakness.The dead tissue in the respiratory tracts forms a thick, grey coating that can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils, and throat, which makes it difficult to breathe and swallow.Severe cases happen as a result of the diphtheria toxin and its effects. Diphtheria: How the Disease Is Treated It is usually treated with diphtheria antitoxin as well as antibiotics. Antitoxin neutralizes the circulating toxin in the blood. Antibiotics stop bacterial replication and thereby toxin production, speed up getting rid of the bacteria, and prevent transmission to others. Also read: UK Parliament Bans Smoking For People Born After 2008: Know All About It How To Prevent DiphtheriaDiphtheria can be prevented by vaccines and routine immunization. The vaccine is given most often combined with vaccines for diseases such as tetanus, pertussis, Hemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, and inactivated polio.