A century ago diphtheria was the biggest killer of children in New Zealand.
A disease which was once the biggest killer of children in New Zealand is having a resurgence in Australia.
ABC News is reporting more than 220 cases of diphtheria in 2026, primarily in the Northern Territory, but also in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
The outbreak is the largest in decades, with the disease previously considered largely eradicated, and authorities are now waiting on confirmation of a reported death in the Northern Territory, which would be the first caused by diphtheria in almost a decade.
Professor of public health at Otago University Michael Baker explained diphtheria was a bacterial infection of the throat and skin - and nowadays, it was very rare.
