Australia confirms first diphtheria death amid worst outbreak in decades

Australia has recorded its first diphtheria death in almost a decade during the worst outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease in decades. The Northern Territory declared an outbreak in March, with cases also reported in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. Cases rose from late 2025, with a sharp increase in February, reaching 245 cases this year, mainly in remote Indigenous communities. Autopsy results from an overseas laboratory confirmed diphtheria as the cause of a man’s death in April at Royal Darwin Hospital, the first such case since 2018. Vaccination efforts have been increased in high-risk areas, with 10,407 vaccinations since 30 March and new cases falling. The outbreak includes respiratory and cutaneous forms, with cutaneous spread via skin contact.

"Australia has recorded its first diphtheria death in almost a decade as the country grapples with the worst outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease in decades. In March, the Northern Territory (NT) declared an outbreak of diphtheria with cases also in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. Cases started rising in late-2025 with a sharp increase in February. This year, there have been 245 cases, marking the largest outbreak in Australia since 1991, mainly in remote Indigenous communities."

"On Tuesday, NT's health minister said autopsy results from an overseas lab found diphtheria was the cause of a man's death in April at Royal Darwin Hospital, the first such case since 2018. In recent weeks, the government has ramped up vaccination efforts in areas most at risk and the number of new cases was now falling, health officials said on Tuesday. "Our government has taken this situation very seriously, and we are working hard to understand the causes and working to contain the situation," NT Health Minister Steve Edgington said."

"Since 30 March, there have been 10,407 vaccinations, he said. Between January last year and May this year, the NT reported 163 diphtheria cases with 48 respiratory cases and 115 cutaneous cases, which is spread via skin contact. In March, health officials in Western Australia (WA) confirmed two cases of respiratory diphtheria, the first time in more than 50 years that WA had recorded such cases."

"Authorities are urging affected communities to update their vaccinations, especially teenagers and adults who need to get booster shots. Health officials in the NT have set up pop-up clinics in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs to raise awareness of the vaccination campaign, as vaccines are the "most im"

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