First Diphtheria Death in Nearly a Decade Confirmed
Australia has confirmed its first diphtheria death in almost ten years as it faces the most severe outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease in decades.
In March, the Northern Territory (NT) officially declared a diphtheria outbreak, with additional cases reported in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland. The number of cases began to rise in late 2025, with a significant surge occurring in February.
This year, 245 cases have been recorded, representing the largest diphtheria outbreak in Australia since 1991, predominantly affecting remote Indigenous communities.
On Tuesday, the NT Health Minister announced that autopsy results from an overseas laboratory confirmed diphtheria as the cause of death for a man who died in April at Royal Darwin Hospital. This marks the first diphtheria-related death since 2018.
Vaccination Efforts and Case Trends
In recent weeks, government authorities have intensified vaccination campaigns in the most vulnerable areas. Health officials reported on Tuesday that the number of new cases is now declining.
"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, 10,407 vaccinations have been administered, according to Edgington.
Between January 2024 and May 2026, the NT reported 163 diphtheria cases, including 48 respiratory and 115 cutaneous cases. Cutaneous diphtheria spreads through skin contact.
In March, Western Australia (WA) health officials confirmed two respiratory diphtheria cases, marking the first such cases in over 50 years in WA.
Approximately 60% of this year’s cases are in the Northern Territory, followed by Western Australia with about 36%, with smaller numbers in South Australia and Queensland.
Public Health Measures and Vaccination Campaigns
Authorities are urging affected communities to update their vaccinations, emphasizing the importance for teenagers and adults to receive booster shots.
NT health officials have established pop-up clinics in Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs to promote awareness of the vaccination campaign. The NT Health Department emphasized that vaccines remain the "most important measure for preventing, protecting and reducing transmission."
Diphtheria exists in two forms: respiratory and cutaneous. Both are preventable through vaccination, which is typically administered to children in five doses between two months and four years of age, with a booster given between 12 and 13 years.
Respiratory diphtheria usually begins with symptoms such as fever or chills and a sore throat, which can progress to breathing and swallowing difficulties and may be life-threatening.
Cutaneous diphtheria generally causes infected sores or ulcers on exposed skin areas. These lesions heal slowly but rarely result in severe illness.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the last reported diphtheria death occurred in 2018.
National Response and Funding
Last week, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, declared diphtheria a communicable disease incident of national significance.
The government announced a funding package of AU$7.2 million to enhance vaccination efforts and provide additional resources in affected regions.
