CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A man in his early 60s has died of diphtheria in Australia's Northern Territory (NT), marking the second death from the disease this month.
The man, who had pre-existing heart conditions and was from a remote Central Australian community, died at a hospital in Alice Springs, a remote desert town in the NT, on Sunday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Monday.
Health authorities declared a diphtheria outbreak in the NT in March, the first recorded in the territory since the 1990s. The bacterial disease, which is preventable by vaccination, can cause severe respiratory illness and skin infections.
The Australian Center for Disease Control has recorded at least 242 diphtheria cases nationwide so far this year, with additional outbreaks reported in the states of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
While rare in developed countries due to routine immunization, cases can still occur in communities with lower vaccination coverage.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, calling it "the most important thing that people can do." Authorities now recommend booster shots every five years for at-risk adults, shortened from the previous 10-year interval. ■