The first diphtheria death in Australia in over 30 years has been confirmed, sparking concern on both sides of the equator. Sources in the New South Wales health department have identified the victim as a young child from the state's northern rivers region. The child, who was not vaccinated, died after a short illness that local doctors initially misdiagnosed as a severe case of tonsillitis.
Meanwhile, British health officials are now monitoring the outbreak closely, though they stress that the risk to the general public remains low. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a memo to GPs and accident and emergency departments across the country, reminding them to consider diphtheria in patients presenting with sore throats and fever, especially those who are unvaccinated or have recently travelled to affected areas.
Diphtheria, a bacterial infection that can cause a thick grey coating in the throat and airways, was once a leading cause of death among children in the developed world. Vaccination programmes nearly eradicated it. Yet pockets of vaccine hesitancy have allowed it to resurface. According to official figures, vaccination rates for diphtheria in Australia have fallen below 90% in some regions a threshold for herd immunity. Similar trends are being observed in parts of the UK, particularly in London where vaccination uptake has dropped to 86% for the childhood booster.
The death in Australia is a grim reminder of the consequences of slipping coverage. Documents obtained by this newsroom show that the UKHSA has been tracking a cluster of diphtheria cases in the south of England since October. That cluster, linked to an unvaccinated family who had recently returned from Indonesia, involved three cases of respiratory diphtheria, though no further spread was detected.
The current outbreak in Australia, however, appears to be more serious. As of yesterday, there have been six confirmed cases in New South Wales alone, with another two suspected in Queensland. All involve children under 10 who were not fully immunised. Those who have come into contact with the victims are being treated with antibiotics and the local health authority has been door-knocking in affected neighbourhoods to offer catch-up vaccinations.
The diphtheria bacterium can also produce a toxin that causes heart and nerve damage, even in cases where the respiratory symptoms are mild. This makes early diagnosis critical. Yet the disease is now so rare that many young doctors have never seen it. Experts worry that this unfamiliarity could lead to delayed treatment and more deaths.
A source at the UKHSA, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me: "We are watching this situation very closely. Diphtheria is one of those diseases that can spread like wildfire in an under-vaccinated population. The Australian case is a wake-up call for us all."
The UKHSA has confirmed that it has increased surveillance at ports and airports for travellers arriving from Australia, though no additional restrictions have been imposed. Meanwhile, the Department of Health has urged parents to ensure their children are up to date with all vaccinations. The message is simple: the bugs are still out there, and they haven't forgotten us.
This is a developing story. More as we have it.
