Nurse shortages in remote communities blamed for biggest diphtheria outbreak since records began
It has been the worst outbreak seen in Australia for 30 years.
The struggle to fill both nurse and GP positions in remote Australia, explains the struggle to contain the worse diphtheria outbreak in more than 30 years, nurse leaders have warned.
More than 240 diphtheria cases have been reported in Australia’s biggest recorded outbreak, including at least 146 in the NT, 92 in WA, seven in the APY Lands in SA and several in Queensland.
Over the weekend, NT Health said it was aware of four cases of the more serious respiratory diphtheria that had been diagnosed in March.
Amid accusations that an official response has come too late, the Federal Government has now announced a $7 million response package.
