Canberra, May 19 (IANS) A diphtheria outbreak in Australia’s Northern Territory has become one of the country’s largest in decades and is spreading into the neighbouring states of Queensland and South Australia, health authorities said on Tuesday.
A total of 133 cases have been recorded in the Northern Territory since the outbreak began, alongside six cases in South Australia and up to five in Queensland, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
Health Minister Mark Butler told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the outbreak was “probably the biggest” seen in decades and confirmed authorities were investigating a suspected diphtheria-related death.
The outbreak has disproportionately affected Indigenous communities, particularly in remote areas. Health officials are working with Aboriginal medical services to expand testing and vaccination efforts.
Diphtheria, once a major cause of childhood mortality, is preventable through vaccination but can resurge when immunity wanes. Authorities now recommend booster shots every five years for at-risk adults, shortened from the previous 10-year interval, Xinhua news agency reported.
Local health leaders said thousands in Central Australia remain overdue for boosters, despite strong uptake in recent weeks. Around 15 to 20 new cases have been reported weekly across the Northern Territory, the ABC reported.
Officials urged anyone with symptoms, including sore throats or skin infections, to seek immediate testing as efforts intensify to contain the outbreak.
According to the World Health Organization, Diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by toxin producing bacteria. It can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some people may not develop disease manifestations but can still transmit the bacteria to others. Others will develop mild disease, although severe disease, complications and death can also occur.
Diphtheria can affect anyone but was most common in unvaccinated children.
The diphtheria toxin causes damage to the respiratory tract and can spread throughout the body. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat and swelling of the neck glands.
Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with diphtheria or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the infection.
–IANS
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