The Department of Health(WA) is continuing its public health response to an ongoing diphtheria outbreak across regional Western Australia, with vaccination, case management, contact tracing and community engagement measures underway in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions.
Since the outbreak began in December 2025, 85 confirmed cases of diphtheria have been reported in regional WA, with most cases occurring among Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region. Cases include both respiratory and cutaneous (skin) diphtheria infections.
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.
The vaccination program is focused on catch-up immunisations for children and adolescents who are not up to date 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.
WA Health is also working closely with the WA Country Health Service and local healthcare providers to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable communities.
According to health officials, early investigations suggest the strain linked to the outbreak is similar to strains involved in recent outbreaks in northern Australia, including the Northern Territory.
Authorities said “The risk to the broader Western Australian community remains low while monitoring and response efforts continue.”
