Second Diphtheria Death Confirmed in Northern Territory
En resumen
- A second person has died from diphtheria in Australia's Northern Territory.
- The man, in his early 60s with pre-existing heart issues, died at Alice Springs Hospital.
- This follows an outbreak declared in March, with over 240 cases reported nationally this year.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
The ABC has confirmed a second death from diphtheria in the Northern Territory, with the victim being a man in his early 60s from a remote Central Australian community. The NT Health Department declared an outbreak in March, the first since the 1990s. Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease.
The ABC has confirmed a second person with diphtheria has died in the Northern Territory.
The ABC understands the man in his early 60s with pre-existing heart issues from a remote Central Australian community died at Alice Springs Hospital yesterday.
It is the second reported death of a person with diphtheria in the NT this month.
The NT Health Department declared an outbreak of the disease in the territory in March, the first time since the 1990s.
Outbreaks of the rare but dangerous disease have also been seen in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control has recorded at least 242 cases reported throughout Australia this year.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease and carries two strains: respiratory diphtheria and cutaneous diphtheria.
Respiratory diphtheria can spread through coughing and sneezing, while cutaneous diphtheria is spread through skin-to-skin contact.
Preguntas abiertas
- What is the current vaccination status of the affected communities?
- What specific measures are being taken to control the outbreak?
- Are there any further details on the pre-existing heart conditions of the deceased?
- What is the current number of active cases in the NT and other affected states?
