Australia Faces Surge in Diphtheria Cases, Impacting Indigenous Communities
Australia is experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak in decades, with 230 cases reported this year and one related death. The outbreak is primarily affecting Indigenous communities in remote areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The surge in cases is attributed to gaps in vaccination coverage, high mobility between communities, and crowded living conditions. The outbreak reportedly began with a case in Queensland in 2022, which was acquired overseas. Despite a high vaccination rate among young children, booster uptake among adolescents is low, contributing to the spread. The Australian government has allocated A$7.2 million to contain the outbreak, deploying additional healthcare workers to administer vaccines and treatments. 
