NSW reports century-first diphtheria case

Diphtheria vaccines are routinely administered in children from six weeks of age. (AAP)

A toddler is in intensive care after contracting the first case of diphtheria of the throat in NSW in a century.

Diphtheria is a contagious and potentially deadly bacterial infection. It affects the throat and tonsils in its most severe form, resulting in a greyish-white membrane forming that can make it hard to swallow and breathe.