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Australia · Survival · Minor · impact 3 of 5
First reported 2 October 2026 · latest 2 October 2026 · 1 reports from 1 outlet
Australia is facing its largest diphtheria outbreak on record, with more than 600 cases reported, mostly among Indigenous people in remote regions. Health teams are tracing spread and vaccinating communities.
"All of these various childhood diseases, they used to be absolute killers 80-100 years ago," he said. "Most families had large numbers of children because they knew so many would actually die during the first year." The latest surge of diphtheria infections the largest outbreak in Australia since records began in 1991 has now risen to more than 600 cases, 22 of which were in SA. There have been more than 500 cases of diphtheria across Australia this year, as governments work to mitigate the largest outbreak since records began.
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After decades of effective vaccination, childhood diseases once considered to be things of the past are rebounding. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson ) South Australia's latest outbreak was sparked by the return of a traveller who contracted the disease overseas and had since spread it to three other students and an adult in their 40s, who was hospitalised, within the Brighton Secondary School community. Contract tracing is being undertaken after the adult spent more than 24 hours at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department.
Contract tracing is being undertaken after the adult spent more than 24 hours at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department. The outbreak takes SA's measles total so far this year to nine, the highest since 2016. According to SA's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, it was a "disappointing" development but not altogether surprising given anti-vaccination misinformation.
"All of these various childhood diseases, they used to be absolute killers 80-100 years ago," he said. "Most families had large numbers of children because they knew so many would actually die during the first year." The latest surge of diphtheria infections the largest outbreak in Australia since records began in 1991 has now risen to more than 600 cases, 22 of which were in SA. There have been more than 500 cases of diphtheria across Australia this year, as governments work to mitigate the largest outbreak since records began.
"All of these various childhood diseases, they used to be absolute killers 80-100 years ago," he said. "Most families had large numbers of children because they knew so many would actually die during the first year." The latest surge of diphtheria infections the largest outbreak in Australia since records began in 1991 has now risen to more than 600 cases, 22 of which were in SA. There have been more than 500 cases of diphtheria across Australia this year, as governments work to mitigate the largest outbreak since records began.
"Most families had large numbers of children because they knew so many would actually die during the first year." The latest surge of diphtheria infections the largest outbreak in Australia since records began in 1991 has now risen to more than 600 cases, 22 of which were in SA. There have been more than 500 cases of diphtheria across Australia this year, as governments work to mitigate the largest outbreak since records began. The highly contagious bacterial infection, which affect the nose, throat, airways or the skin, is treated with antibiotics and vaccination is considered the primary line of defence against the disease.
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