Australia is facing a growing public health concern as a diphtheria outbreak continues to spread across several regions, prompting increased monitoring by health authorities. Officials are currently investigating a suspected first death linked to the infection, which has raised alarm among medical experts and communities. Diphtheria, a serious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system and can be fatal if untreated, has seen a rare resurgence in recent cases. Health departments are urging people to stay alert for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and breathing difficulties.
The Northern Territory’s diphtheria outbreak has become one of the most severe in Australia’s history, with cases now spreading beyond the territory into Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia. According to ABC News, Australia's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System have reported 133 cases in the NT so far, including one suspected death linked to the disease. Western Australia has recorded 79 cases, while South Australia has confirmed six infections and Queensland has reported up to five cases. According to NITV news, if investigators confirm the death was caused by diphtheria, it would mark Australia’s first fatality from the infectious disease since 2018.
Speaking to ABC Radio National, Australia’s Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said he was very concerned about what he described as 'probably the biggest diphtheria outbreak we’ve seen, certainly for decades.' Butler said the federal government was still awaiting the results of an Northern Territory investigation into a suspected diphtheria-related death, adding that 'there’s no question this is a serious situation'.
"It's serious in the Northern Territory. It's spreading across other parts of the Top End. It's crept below the South Australian border into the APY Lands," Butler said as quoted by ABC News.
"So we're working very closely with the Northern Territory government, but also with the Aboriginal-controlled sector."
According to NITV news, NT Health issued a public health alert in April, urging medical professionals to emphasize the importance of vaccination against diphtheria.
"NT Health is working with community organisations to undertake a territory-wide vaccination program to address the outbreak starting with a staged approach focusing on vulnerable people and at-risk areas," spokesperson for NT Health said.
Diphtheria is a preventable bacterial infection covered under Australia’s routine childhood immunization program. The disease can cause serious inflammation of the nose, throat, and airways, potentially leading to severe complications if left untreated. It spreads through direct contact with infected skin sores or through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Health officials have confirmed that both respiratory and cutaneous (skin-related) forms of diphtheria have been detected during the current outbreak.
