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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Community-led diphtheria vaccination campaign to manage a diphtheria outbreak in a remote Aboriginal community
Allison Hempenstall1, Joanne Neville2, Caroline Taunton3
1Public Health Medical Officer, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, Queensland, Australia; Allison.hempenstall@health.qld.gov.au.
Abstract:
In 2022, five cases of diphtheria were identified in and around Wujal Wujal, a discrete Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland. This prompted a mass diphtheria vaccination campaign in the community which increased the proportion of residents aged ≥ 14 years receiving a diphtheria containing vaccine in the prior twelve months from 5% to 74%. No further cases were detected in the subsequent twenty-two months.
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