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Diphtheria used to be a major cause of childhood deaths. Now it's back in Australia
Key takeaways
- Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can infect the nose, throat and airways.
- The NT death has renewed attention on the highly contagious bacterial infection, which was once a major cause of childhood deaths before widespread vaccination programs in the 40s dramatically reduced cases in Australia.
- While diphtheria is now rare, health authorities say vaccine coverage has waned since the COVID pandemic, which could be the reason for the rising number of cases nationally.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can infect the nose, throat and airways. (ABC News: Alice Pavlovic)
Link copied Share Share article Australia has recorded its first reported death from diphtheria in almost a decade, after the Northern Territory declared an outbreak of the disease in March.
The NT death has renewed attention on the highly contagious bacterial infection, which was once a major cause of childhood deaths before widespread vaccination programs in the 40s dramatically reduced cases in Australia.
Article preview — originally published by ABC Australia. Full story at the source.
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