A Diphtheria Death in Australia
The Real Truth About Vaccines
The diphtheria outbreak in Australia that began in March continues and has now caused a death.
“Australia has recorded its first reported death from diphtheria in almost a decade, after the Northern Territory declared an outbreak of the disease in March.”
Diphtheria used to be a major cause of childhood deaths. Now it’s back in Australia
A death that is all the more tragic because diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease.
A Diphtheria Death in Australia
A tragedy that is unfolding because “vaccine coverage has waned since the COVID pandemic.”
And this has led to a surge in cases of diphtheria, including:
132 cases in the Northern Territory
75 cases in Western Australia
six cases in South Australia
up to five cases in Queensland
While the majority of the cases are cutaneous diphtheria, a significant number, nearly 30%, have been classified as the far more serious type of respiratory diphtheria.
Caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria, children and adults with respiratory diphtheria can get very sick if not quickly treated with diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics. Tragically, even with treatment though, up to 5 to 10% of patients with respiratory diphtheria can die!
So why haven’t there been more deaths during this diphtheria outbreak in Australia?
Fortunately, many of the cases have occurred in people who are at least partially vaccinated.
“…the median period since last vaccine dose higher among hospitalised cases, particularly for respiratory diphtheria cases (11.1 years).”
Diphtheria in Australia – Epidemiological update As at 11 May 2026
That has likely led to milder symptoms than they would have had if they were completely unvaccinated.
Bottom line - if you want to avoid diphtheria, stay up-to-date on your DTaP and Tdap vaccinations!