WA Health boosts vaccination response amid regional diphtheria outbreak

The Department of Health is continuing its public health response to an ongoing diphtheria outbreak in regional Western Australia.

Vaccination, case management, contact tracing and community engagement measures are underway across affected regions – the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields.

There have been 85 confirmed cases of diphtheria in regional WA since the outbreak began in December 2025.

Dr Paul Armstrong, Director of the Communicable Disease Control Directorate, said WA Health continued to work closely with key stakeholders and is progressing discussions with the Commonwealth regarding additional support for the ongoing response.

“The Australian Government’s funding boost for the outbreak across multiple jurisdictions is welcome as we continue working to protect Western Australians from diphtheria,” Dr Armstrong said.

“Dr Clare Huppatz, Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer will be a member of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre’s Diphtheria Governance Committee for continued high-level collaboration and engagement on this important public health response.”

Most cases have occurred among Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region, with a small number of cases identified in the Pilbara and Goldfields. Cases include both respiratory (throat) and cutaneous (skin) diphtheria infections.

Dr Paul Armstrong said diphtheria was a serious bacterial infection that can become life-threatening, particularly in respiratory cases.

“WA Health has significantly strengthened its public health response over recent months, including expanded vaccination activity, case management, contact tracing and ongoing community engagement across affected regions,” Dr Armstrong said.

“While most cases have occurred in the Kimberley, the Department continues to closely monitor the situation across regional WA and respond as appropriate.”

The expanded vaccination program in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions, is focused on active catch-up vaccination for children and adolescents who are not up to date with routine immunisations under the National Immunisation Program, as well as booster doses for eligible adults who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine within the past five years.

Dr Armstrong said the Department was working closely with WA Country Health Service, Aboriginal health services, and other local healthcare providers to help reduce transmission and protect vulnerable communities.

“Public health teams continue to focus on case management and contact tracing, including facilitating testing, providing antibiotics where needed, and supporting vaccination efforts across affected communities,” he said.

“We are seeing strong cooperation from local communities, Aboriginal health services and other local healthcare providers, with eligible people coming forward for vaccination.”

Early investigations suggest the strain involved in the current outbreak is similar to strains linked to recent outbreaks in northern Australia, including the Northern Territory.

“The risk to the broader Western Australian community remains low,” Dr Armstrong said.

“WA Health will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement additional public health measures as required.”

For more information about the exposure locations and symptoms to monitor for, visit the diphtheria health alert.

For current regional case figures, please refer to the WA Notifiable Disease Dashboard. Data is available at a regional level only to protect patient privacy.