A case of diphtheria has been recorded in the Mid West, extending the outbreak across five Western Australia regions. Kate Gunthorpe, TerryWhite Chemmart chief deputy pharmacist, said people travelling to outbreak areas should check their DTaP vaccine status before they go.
Western Australia now has cases in the Kimberley, the Pilbara, the Goldfields, the Perth metropolitan area and the Mid West. The Kimberley has 135 cases, the Pilbara has 32, the Goldfields has three, the Perth metropolitan area has two and the Mid West has one.
Kate Gunthorpe and DTaP vaccine
Gunthorpe said: “It’s a timely reminder that diphtheria hasn’t disappeared, it’s just been really well controlled in the last few years through vaccination,” She added: “Unfortunately, when vaccination coverage drops or when people aren’t up to date with their boosters, we can start to see outbreaks like we’ve seen emerge.”
She also said: “What’s really important, if you’re travelling, is to check your vaccination status before going to one of these outbreak areas.” She said boosters are needed about every 10 years and that “Your pharmacist or local GP can advise if you need another booster to protect yourself.” TerryWhite Chemmart recorded a 23 per cent increase in vaccinations for the infection in the past four weeks compared with the same period last year.
Western Australia and Australia
WA accounts for almost 44 per cent of the 401 cases recorded across Australia. Most recorded cases have been through skin to skin contact and have disproportionately affected the Aboriginal community.
Diphtheria can spread through close contact with respiratory droplets, infected skin sores or contaminated items such as bandages and shared towels. The respiratory type can begin as a sore throat and develop into difficulty breathing, while the infection can also cause poorly healing skin infections and lead to heart and nerve damage.
For people in the Mid West and other affected areas, the practical step is simple: check whether a booster is due before travel or contact with outbreak regions. Gunthorpe said pharmacists all over Australia have been advising more patients to get a whooping cough booster, which also covers diphtheria.
