'Immigrants are to blame' and other falsehoods about diphtheria
Diphtheria is currently spreading in Australia, accompanied by a rise in misinformation about the disease. Experts emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent its spread, urging individuals to check their vaccination status. Claims blaming immigrants for the outbreak are unfounded and linked to lower vaccination rates in certain communities.
- ▪A diphtheria outbreak has affected multiple states in Australia, resulting in one death in the Northern Territory.
- ▪Misinformation about diphtheria and vaccines is spreading rapidly on social media.
- ▪Experts assert that the outbreak is linked to declining vaccination rates, particularly in Aboriginal communities.
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Diphtheria is spreading in Australia and so is misinformation about the diseaseBy ABC NEWS Verify's Lucy CarterABC NEWS VerifyTopic:Disease OutbreakWed 20 May 2026 at 2:50pmWed 20 May 2026 at 2:50pmWed 20 May 2026 at 2:50pmDiphtheria is spreading in Australia, but so are falsehoods about the highly contagious disease. (ABC News: Devi Mallal)In short:A diphtheria outbreak has spread to multiple states and territories in Australia, with one death in the Northern Territory so far likely caused by the disease.Falsehoods about the bacterial disease and vaccines are spreading just as quickly on social media.What's next? Experts say vaccination remains the safest and best way to prevent the highly contagious disease from spreading and are urging people to check if they are due for a booster…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).