On 22 May 2026 Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof Michael Kidd AO, declared diphtheria a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS).
The declaration enables coordinated national efforts to stop the spread of diphtheria. These efforts include a funding package, and ongoing work to support the outbreak response.
Read more about the CDINS at Australian CDC: Diphtheria declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.
Read more about diphtheria disease, transmission, epidemiology and prevention at MVEC: Diphtheria.