Health officials say there has been a steady reduction in the number of reported diphtheria cases, as the worst outbreak on record continues.
A majority of the cases are in remote parts of the Northern Territory, which currently has 163 reported active cases of diphtheria.
NT Minister for Health Steve Edgington said that while a reduction in cases is a positive sign, the worst is far from over.
"The numbers are declining [but] we are far from out of the woods," Mr Edgington said.
"What we are doing is focusing on working right across the Northern Territory in partnership with the Aboriginal community controlled organisations to get on top of diphtheria."
Vaccine rollout ramps up
A mass vaccination rollout is underway following a $7.2 million dollar response package from the Federal Government.
In the last 7 weeks, more than 10,000 vaccines have been distributed across the Northern Territory, and affected communities in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia.
Executive Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), Professor Len Notaras, said the results have been positive as key partnerships with Aboriginal-controlled health services continue.
"It is preventable and it is something that can be disrupted and contained," Professor Notaras said.
"It's about communication as much as about the intervention in terms of giving the vaccine [and] treating the associated illnesses."
"This is a partnership. This is not NCCTRC coming in to exert authority, it's us in partnership with NT Health ... and the various other primary health groups."
NT Health is developing more resources in Aboriginal and multicultural languages.
Vaccinations are available at local GPs, Aboriginal health clinics, remote community clinics, community care centres, and participating pharmacies.
Pop-up clinics remain open in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, as well as a mobile unit in Central Australia to increase public awareness and provide people with an additional means to get vaccinated.
Outbreak of 'national significance'
The NT Health Department declared an outbreak of the disease in March. It has since become the largest outbreak ever recorded.
Diphtheria notifications in Australia have been increasing since October 2025.
This year so far, there have been more than 230 reported cases of diphtheria in Australia.
Around 60 per cent of cases are in remote parts of the Northern Territory, but the outbreak is also spreading across Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
On Friday 22 May, the Australian Centre for Disease Control declared the outbreak a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS).
This means Australia is stepping up a nationally coordinated response to a growing outbreak.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, said it will allow governments and health services to work together more quickly to get vaccines, medicines, staff and support to the communities that need them most.
"I want to reassure Australians that health authorities are acting quickly and that most reported cases in this outbreak have been mild," Mr Kidd said.
"This is still a serious disease, and we must not be complacent.
"By staying up to date with vaccination and following public health advice, we can protect ourselves, our families and our communities."
Vaccination is free under the National Immunisation Program for people under 20 years of age.
Children are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 years and 12 years.
Parents should check their child’s vaccination status with their health care provider to make sure they are up to date with the NT immunisation schedule.
Pregnant women from 20 weeks of pregnancy are also eligible for a free vaccination.
Adults should get a booster dose every 10 years.
Diphtheria related death confirmed
The Northern Territory has one confirmed death from diphtheria following the return of autopsy results from an overseas laboratory on Tuesday.
The person, who died at Royal Darwin Hospital in April, has been formally classified as a probable death from diphtheria.
It is the first fatal case of diphtheria in Australia since 2018.
Professor Michael Kidd said diphtheria had been confirmed as the "probable" cause of death following the return of a final toxicology test done internationally.
"We've received final test results from an international laboratory that confirmed diphtheria was the probable cause," the Chief Medical Officer said.
"The final toxicology test has come back demonstrating that that diphtheria bug is producing a toxin that can cause these health affects."
NT Health also confirmed reports of a second death of a patient in Central Australia over the weekend is in no way related or linked to diphtheria.
Professor Kidd confirmed on Tuesday that the deceased man had tested negative to the disease and that reporting over his death had been inaccurate.
"That sad death that happened in Alice Springs was not associated with diphtheria," he said.
