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Diphtheria

Statutory notification alert

Diphtheria is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
Alert: cases must be reported urgently by telephone to the public health units (Healthy WA) within a few hours of first suspicion of diagnosis.
See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB).
For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Infectious agent: Toxic forms of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans.
Transmission: Normally spread from person to person in airborne droplets after an infected person has coughed or sneezed. May also be spread through direct contact with skin lesions or soiled articles.
Incubation period: Usually 2 to 5 days.
Infectious period: Until virulent bacteria have disappeared from discharges and lesions, up to four weeks after onset of symptoms.
Case exclusion: Excluded until non infectious.
Contact exclusion: Do not exclude. Contact management will be coordinated by public health unit staff.
Treatment: Antibiotic and antitoxin treatment as recommended by the doctor.
Immunisation: Recommended that children be vaccinated according to the Western Australian Immunisation Schedule. All adults who reach the age of 50 years should receive a vaccine booster dose if they have not received one in the previous ten years. See Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Diphtheria (external site).
Case follow-up: Is conducted by public health units (Healthy WA) and the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

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