The Northern Territory Department of Health has declared an outbreak of diphtheria, with four cases of a deadly strain now confirmed.
On Wednesday, NT Health’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) issued a public health alert for the disease after three cases in Darwin and one in Alice Springs were reported in the last week.
Several cases have been detected in Darwin. (Supplied: Jack Bullen)
There have also been 33 cases of cutaneous diphtheria notified since 2025.
“This is unusual, we haven’t had an outbreak in my 26 years in the Northern Territory,” NT Health Chief Health Officer Paul Burgess said.
“The control measures are well in hand, the risk to the general public is extremely low.”
He said contact tracing is underway for people who may have come into contact with cases of diphtheria.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria has been a feared childhood disease throughout history because of devastating outbreaks.
The infection was a common cause of death in children up until the 1940s, when a vaccine was widely rolled out.
There are two strains of diphtheria identified in the NT; respiratory and cutaneous.
They are both highly contagious, vaccine-preventable diseases caused by toxic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable illness. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
Respiratory diphtheria can be life-threatening if untreated.
The symptoms can include a sore throat, mild fever, loss of appetite and, in severe cases, trouble breathing.
The symptoms of cutaneous diphtheria can include sores or ulcers (often on the legs) and slow-healing wounds.
‘Don’t listen to vaccine sceptics’
Dr Burgess urged Territorians to check their vaccination status and to vaccinate themselves and their children.
Paul Burgess encourages vaccinations for diphtheria. (ABC News)
“These diseases are still with us, even though we don’t get sick with them because most of us are vaccinated,” he said.
“Don’t listen to the vaccine sceptics and the misinformation spread on social media.”
According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook, the vaccine for diphtheria is only available in Australia as a combination vaccine which includes other antigens for pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus.
Vaccines are free for children at six weeks, two months, four months, six months, 18 months, four years and 12 years.
Adults are also urged to get vaccinated every 10 years and pregnant women between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.