Australia Records Largest Diphtheria Outbreak in Decades, Concentrated in Remote Indigenous Communities

Australia is recording its largest diphtheria outbreak in living memory, with cases concentrated in remote Indigenous communities. The highly contagious bacterial disease, once nearly eradicated for decades, is now spreading across multiple regions. The Guardian reported that the outbreak is occurring in communities where residents describe basic infection-control supplies as unavailable.

In one remote Northern Territory community, residents said the local health clinic has no hand sanitiser. Diphtheria is often described as a disease of poverty. The current spread follows years in which vaccination and public-health measures had kept cases near zero.

Nour Haydar interviewed Indigenous affairs correspondent Sarah Collard and Indigenous affairs reporter Douglas Smith about containment efforts. The discussion focused on measures being taken to limit further transmission. Donna Ah Chee stated that diphtheria has no place in modern Australia and that the outbreak reflects gaps in the Closing the Gap framework.

The Guardian published the interview as part of its Full Story podcast on the outbreak.