Overview
- Health authorities have recorded more than 230 cases nationally, with the majority in the Northern Territory and a large cluster in northern Western Australia.
- The federal government announced Friday a A$7.2 million response to buy vaccines and antibiotics, deploy extra doctors and nurses, and stand up coordination with Aboriginal health services.
- Northern Territory officials report both respiratory and skin (cutaneous) diphtheria in the outbreak and are awaiting autopsy results to confirm a suspected diphtheria-related death.
- Public health experts say the outbreak is driven by waning boosters, lower vaccination coverage in some age groups, overcrowded housing and limited health access in remote communities, and that online misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are hindering uptake.
- Pop-up and catch-up vaccination clinics are being rolled out and community leaders say rapid immunisation should reduce spread within months, but sustained staffing, clear local communication and boosters will be needed to protect remote communities.