Australia has confirmed its first death from "diphtheria" in 8 years amid the most severe outbreak since 1991, with infections exceeding 240 cases. Most cases are in remote Indigenous communities. Authorities are speeding up vaccinations and opening special clinics to curb the spread.
Steve Edgington, Minister for Health of the Northern Territory, announced that a post-mortem conducted by an overseas laboratory confirmed that a man who died in April at Royal Darwin Hospital succumbed to "diphtheria." This marks the first diphtheria death in Australia since 2018.
However, the Northern Territory Department of Health denied earlier rumors from ABC News about a second death involving a man in central Australia. They confirmed that the patient who died on Sunday, 24 May, was not related to diphtheria and withheld personal information to protect privacy.
Australia began seeing rising diphtheria cases from late 2025, which surged rapidly in February, prompting an official outbreak declaration in March. This is the largest outbreak since 1991, affecting four main states. Total cases this year have reached at least 242–245, with the primary outbreak source in remote Indigenous communities. The Northern Territory is hardest hit, accounting for 60% of cases (about 146).
In Western Australia, about 36% of cases (89) have been reported, especially in the Kimberley region. This is the first respiratory diphtheria case in the state in over 50 years. South Australia recorded 7 cases in the APY Lands in the northwest, while Queensland reported 3 cases in Cairns and Brisbane.
Mark Butler, Australia's Health Minister, expressed concern, saying, "Something has clearly gone wrong. An outbreak of this scale from a disease that most developed countries consider a thing of the past means we need to seriously investigate what exactly has happened."
Diphtheria is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by bacteria and preventable by vaccination. There are two main types: respiratory diphtheria, transmitted by coughing or sneezing, initially causing fever, chills, sore throat, and loss of appetite. Within days, a thick grayish-white membrane forms on the throat and tonsils, causing difficulty swallowing and breathing. Severe cases may block airways, leading to death from suffocation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that despite antibiotic treatment, the fatality rate remains as high as one in ten cases.
Cutaneous diphtheria, the other type, spreads through direct skin contact, causing blistering or ulcerative skin lesions, usually on arms and legs. The wounds heal slowly but are less severe than respiratory diphtheria.
Due to the severity, Professor Michael Kidd, Australia's Chief Medical Officer, declared this diphtheria outbreak a "nationally significant communicable disease event." The government approved an emergency budget of 7.2 million Australian dollars (approximately 160 million baht) to boost medical resources and accelerate vaccinations in high-risk areas.
The local health departments in affected areas have rapidly set up mobile clinics in key towns such as Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs to raise awareness. Since late March, over 10,407 vaccine doses have been administered.
Authorities stated that "vaccination is the best defense." Typically, children receive a basic five-dose vaccine series from 2 months to 4 years old, with a booster at 12–13 years. However, due to this crisis, doctors recommend a booster every 5 years instead of the usual 10, to build herd immunity and quickly stop the outbreak.