Diphtheria death marks first in nearly a decade amid Australia's worst outbreak in years
Australia confirms its first diphtheria death since 2018 as it battles its worst outbreak in decades, with 245 cases this year mainly in the Northern Territory and remote Indigenous communities. An autopsy linked the April Darwin death to diphtheria. Vaccination campaigns have administered over 10,000 doses since March; Western Australia has reported its first respiratory cases in more than 50 years. Officials say cases are now falling and have allocated AU$7.2 million to boost vaccines and resources, urging boosters for teens and adults.
