<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal health minister has thrown millions of dollars at trying to get the worst outbreak of diphtheria in Australia's recorded history under control.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mark Butler confirmed there have been 230 cases of the rare bacterial disease reported so far this year, with about 60 per cent being in the Northern Territory and the remaining in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Almost half of the cases are occurring in adults aged between 25 and 44. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/paul-keating-support-of-federal-budget-opposition-reacts/cfe06484-6b5d-415f-b2b4-43235f7e27e5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Former PM backs contentious tax reform in scathing statement</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The number of cases we've reported since the beginning of 2026 is about 30 times the average we've seen over the last five years, and that number continues to increase," Butler said at a press conference today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a very serious outbreak of a very serious disease."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Diphtheria is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and death.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/diphtheria-outbreak-7-million-thrown-at-controlling-outbreak-of-rare-and-fatal-infection/554a9f84-1b6e-44c7-99d0-84af1f527251" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even with treatment, one in 10 patients die, according to the Australian Centre for Disease Control.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler said the federal government will provide $7.2 million to increase the number of nurses to administer vaccinations and boost culturally safe communications after receiving a request from the Northern Territory government and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are throwing everything we can at this to get it under control as quickly as possible," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson-unveils-gas-policy/9a95d39f-8f2e-4f21-86d4-97108e0cb8ff" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Won't be some socialist takeover': Pauline Hanson unveils gas policy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Diphtheria is rare in Australia but occurs overseas and could have been brought into the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is also easily spread in communities with low vaccination rates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler said that while there has been a global decline in vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, it was too early to assign a cause for the recent outbreak.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are a whole range of social determinants in remote communities that sometimes drive some of these infectious disease outbreaks as well, but I think we need to examine that closely in time," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler added that the focus right now was boosting vaccination rates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's important we control it, but it's also important that people get vaccines into their arms in affected areas as quickly as possible because at the end of the day, that is the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/family-trust-tax-question-money-expert-noel-whittaker/741478b4-e6d0-4d06-9e5c-4805707dc5d4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Australian family's query about new trust tax law sparks debate</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The success of childhood vaccination for diphtheria is, I'm told, really the reason why this outbreak is not causing serious issues for very young members of those communities."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pharmacists have urged all Australians to check their diphtheria vaccination status.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know significant numbers of people are not up to date for their boosters," Pharmacy Guild of Australia national vice president Simon Blacker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Diphtheria is spread through respiratory droplets (which leave the mouth while talking, coughing or sneezing) or direct contact with the wound.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms include mild fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing and neck swelling. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" 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