Western Australian residents are being urged to ensure they are up to date with their diphtheria vaccination in response to an outbreak of cases in regional WA.

There have been 60 confirmed cases of diphtheria reported in regional WA since late December 2025, with the majority occurring in Aboriginal people. This includes 55 cases in the Kimberley, three in the Pilbara, and two cases in the Goldfields. Cases have primarily occurred in children and young adults, with a smaller number spread across older age groups.

These figures reinforce the importance of maintaining strong vaccination coverage across all age groups, particularly in regional communities.

Diphtheria is a serious disease, and vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe illness and reduce transmission.

It can present as either a sore throat that can become severe and life-threatening, or poorly healing skin infections, and spreads through close contact with respiratory droplets, infected skin sores or contaminated items such as bandages and shared towels.

Diphtheria vaccine is routinely provided to children as part of combination vaccines that are given at two months, four months, six months and 18 months of age, followed by a dose at four years of age and a booster during year seven of school (typically between 12 and 13 years of age).

This current outbreak in WA is a reminder that booster doses of diphtheria vaccine, usually given in combination with tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines, are very important to maintain immunity in teenagers and adults.