diphtheria

At least 144 children in Karachi have died from measles and diphtheria since January 2026, with 1,915 measles cases and 125 deaths reported across four tertiary care hospitals. Experts attribute the deaths to low vaccination coverage, as parents fail to ensure timely immunization despite free vaccines under the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI).

Vaccine uptake has declined in Brazil and South Africa over the last decade, reversing gains in protecting children against diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria, and whooping cough. The article highlights that vaccine hesitancy in these regions cannot be attributed to a single factor.

The first half of 2026 has seen outbreaks of Ebola, hantavirus, and diphtheria in Africa and Australia, highlighting vulnerabilities in disease detection, communication, and response systems. The article attributes these challenges to distrust in healthcare systems.

A diphtheria outbreak in Yuendumu, a remote Northern Territory community, is causing concern due to a lack of hand sanitiser at the health clinic and a three-week delay for test results. Over 240 cases have been reported in remote Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia since October.

Australia has confirmed its first diphtheria death in what is being called the worst outbreak in decades. Most cases are concentrated in the Northern Territory, with additional cases reported in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland.

Australia has confirmed its first diphtheria death amid the worst outbreak in decades, with most cases concentrated in the Northern Territory and additional cases in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland.

Australia has confirmed its first diphtheria death amid the worst outbreak in decades, with most cases reported in the Northern Territory and additional cases in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland.

Australia is experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak in living memory, with vaccine misinformation, nurse and doctor shortages, and crowded living arrangements contributing to rising cases in remote Indigenous communities.

The article warns of public health crises if vaccines become unavailable, citing risks like measles outbreaks and potential resurgence of polio, rubella, and diphtheria. Researchers modeled scenarios showing how declining vaccination rates could lead to widespread disease outbreaks and deaths over 25 years. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is criticized for promoting antivaccination policies that could disrupt vaccine access.