The Northern Territory has one confirmed death to diphtheria with the return of autopsy results from an overseas laboratory this morning.
As previously reported, the person died at Royal Darwin Hospital in April has been formally classified as a probable death from diphtheria.
NT Health has confirmed the reported death of a patient in Central Australia over the weekend is in no way related or linked to diphtheria.
There have been 163 cases of diphtheria reported in the Northern Territory between 1 January 2025 and 25 May 2026, including 48 respiratory cases and 115 cutaneous (affecting the skin).
The number of new cases of diphtheria being diagnosed in the NT is now declining following NT Health's education and vaccination efforts with community partners.
The Minister for Health, Steve Edgington, said NT Health, alongside community partners, is rolling out a staged Territory-wide vaccination response prioritising vulnerable Territorians and communities most at risk.
"Our government has taken this situation very seriously, and we are working hard to understand the causes and working to contain the situation," Mr Edgington said.
"NT Health is working with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, to undertake a Territory-wide vaccination program to address the outbreak, with an initial focus on vulnerable people and at-risk areas. From 30 March, there have been 10,407 vaccinations.
"NT Health continues to engage and consult with Aboriginal health organisations and primary care services to inform the community and increase vaccination. This includes contact tracing, testing, regular education sessions with vaccine providers and increased vaccination in communities."
To support the public health response, there has also been local in-language radio advertising and resources produced by local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, visual infographics, posters and signage, and grass-roots health promotion and education taking place in communities.
NT Health is currently developing more resources in Aboriginal and multicultural languages.
NT Health has established pop-up clinics in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, as well as a mobile unit in Central Australia to increase public awareness and provide people with an additional means to get vaccinated.
Following confirmation of the first case of respiratory diphtheria in Alice Springs in late April, the mobile vaccination unit was immediately deployed in Central Australia.
Vaccination remains the most important measure for preventing, protecting and reducing transmission and NT Health is committed to curbing the outbreak. The goal is to achieve a high vaccination coverage for the diphtheria vaccine across the Northern Territory to prevent severe cases of respiratory diphtheria.
Vaccination is free under the National Immunisation Program for people under 20 years of age. Children are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 years and 12 years.
Parents should check their child's vaccination status with their health care provider to make sure they are up to date with the NT immunisation schedule.
Pregnant women from 20 weeks of pregnancy are also eligible for a free vaccination.
Adults should get a booster dose every 10 years.
Territorians can get the vaccine at their local GP, Aboriginal health clinic, remote community clinic, community care centres, and participating pharmacies.
