Diphtheria Outbreak Australia’s Worst in Decades, Says Health Minister

As of May 19, 133 cases of the illness have been reported in the Northern Territory, 79 in Western Australia, six in South Australia and five in Queensland.

Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler addresses the media at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 30, 2023. Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Diphtheria cases in Australia are increasing and Health Minister Mark Butler says it is the worst outbreak Australia has seen in many years.

“We’re very concerned about this,” he told ABC Radio.

“This is probably the biggest diphtheria outbreak we’ve seen certainly for decades.”

As of May 19, 133 cases of the illness have been reported in the Northern Territory (NT), 79 in Western Australia, six in South Australia and five in Queensland.

The cases have predominantly occurred in Aboriginal communities.

On May 15, the Northern Territory government announced one member of a remote community was suspected to have died from the disease.

“I was up in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago meeting with the Aboriginal medical service for the Northern Territory and they’re obviously deeply, deeply concerned,” Butler said.

“We’ve lifted our efforts around vaccine activity there, you’ve got to get a booster probably every five years if you’re an adult.

“We’ve worked with the NT government and the Aboriginal control sector to get more vaccines there but we’re also working with the NT government about other things that we can do to help them.”

The minister also noted that the government was currently investigating the NT death.

“This is serious, it’s serious in the NT, it’s spreading across other parts of the top end, it’s crept below the South Australia border into the APY lands [the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal region] so we’re working very closely with the NT government but also with the Aboriginal control sector,” he said

What Is Diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, primarily affecting the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, and can lead to severe complications or death if untreated.

Symptoms can include a fever, sore throat, feeling unwell and loss of appetite, which can progress into a pale membrane coating the airways, coupled with neck swelling, difficulty swallowing and breathing.

The toxin made by the disease bacteria can lead to further complications such as heart inflammation and paralysis.

The disease can also affect the skin and be carried by some people who do not show symptoms.

According to the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), even with medical treatment, up to one in 10 patients with respiratory symptoms will die from the ailment.

Diphtheria spreads through respiratory droplets, nasal and throat secretions, or fluid from skin sores. Although the disease can be fatal, it is preventable through vaccination.

Cases of the disease are generally rare now in Australia but are usually brought to the country by overseas travellers or returning citizens, the CDC states.

The Epoch Times has contacted NT Health and the CDC for comment.