The nation's Health Minister Mark Butler says a diphtheria outbreak spreading across remote parts of the country is the biggest on record, and has pledged vaccine and staffing support for the Northern Territory to bring it under control.
More than 220 cases of diphtheria have been recorded this year, according to Mr Butler, with a quarter of those people needing to be taken to hospital.
"To put that in context, we've been recording case numbers nationally for about 35 years, and this by a very big distance is the biggest outbreak of diphtheria we've ever seen," he said.
"It's about 30 times the average number of diphtheria cases that we've seen over the last five years or so. So it's a very, very concerning outbreak"
Diphtheria is a serious but preventable bacterial infection, and vaccinations for it are included as part of the standard childhood vaccination schedule.
It is spread through respiratory droplets via coughing and sneezing, or by direct skin contact with sores.
About 60 per cent of this year's cases have been recorded in the Northern Territory, where local health authorities are awaiting an autopsy report for a possible diphtheria related death.
If confirmed, it would be the first death from the disease in Australia since 2018.
Most of the other cases have been reported Western Australia.
"The vast majority of the rest of those cases are in the northern part of Western Australia, with about five or six cases each in South Australia, particularly in the APY Lands just below the NT border, and in Queensland as well," Mr Butler said.
Mr Butler confirmed he would be finalising details of a support package for the Northern Territory on Wednesday.
"More vaccines, surge workforce is part of the package that we'll be finalising over the course of today, working closely with the NT Government and with the Aboriginal Controlled sector, because this is overwhelmingly an outbreak being experienced by Indigenous Australians in the NT," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Mr Butler also warned that many of the cases were respiratory, saying mounting pressure was being placed on the NT's hospitals.
"This is not just very serious in terms of its numbers, but the vast majority of new cases we're seeing are respiratory diphtheria, which is far more serious in terms of its potential," he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was taking the outbreak seriously, and urged people to get vaccinated.
"People need to be vaccinated if they haven't been, that's the most important thing people can do," Mr Albanese said.
"The government runs significant campaigns about vaccination, and there is some misinformation out there that undermines peoples health conditions."
"Its a reminder how important vaccination from these preventable diseases is."
