Australia’s diphtheria outbreak shows why boosters, antibiotics, and better housing all matter
Maria Simulescu
By Vijay Kumar Malesu Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Jun 15 2026 A 131-case outbreak reveals how a vaccine-preventable disease regained a foothold in the Northern Territory, exposing the urgent need for booster vaccination, rapid treatment, genomic surveillance, and better housing. Study: Diphtheria outbreak, Northern Territory of Australia, 2025 to 2026. Image Credit: Chatchouliya / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance , a group of researchers
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