A vaccine-preventable disease is spreading again in Australia: What is diphtheria?

Anyone who is not fully immunised is at risk of diphtheria. Source: AAP, AP / AAP / Wang yadong/AP

Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak in decades has spread across Northern Territory into Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia. Some Filipino migrants express concern. What is the government doing to stop the spread of the disease?

Published 27 May 2026 9:00am

By Helen Quinanola, Angelica Waite

Presented by Helen Quinanola

Source: SBS

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For Filipino migrant, Arth Ledesma, based in Western Australia, news of the outbreak caused her fear and concern especially because WA is among the area with a high number of cases.
According to the Australian Medical Association, routine vaccination is effective, but declining vaccination rates have contributed to the outbreak.
The federal government has allocated $7 million funding package, but gaps remain, according to medical practitioners.

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