Infectious Diseases

Luke Bantoft has survived melioidosis but the experience has left him "petrified" of returning to his home where he believes he caught it. Experts say the source of the outbreak could be the Bruce Highway upgrade.

The US Health Secretary has incorrectly claimed the measles jab contains aborted foetus cells, while scientists warn the country is at a tipping point for the infection to become endemic for the first time in 25 years. 

Melioidosis claims another two lives in Queensland, bringing the state's death toll to 28 from more than 200 infections following record wet weather. 

Less than half of Australia's aged care residents aged 75 years and older are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, despite being at highest risk of severe health outcomes.

The virus that causes shingles is just one of a number of pathogens that may be linked to brain conditions. Here are some of the other bugs scientists have under the microscope.

A lengthy police investigation has revealed Betsy Arakawa was researching medical conditions relating to COVID-19 in the days leading up to her death.  

Six people contracted the infectious disease after spending time in Sydney's CBD over the past three weeks, according to NSW Health.

Melioidosis claims the life of another Queensland Health patient in the Townsville region as a microbiologist warns floodwater is pushing dangerous bacteria to the soil's surface.

Adults can catch and spread the disease, especially if they are under-vaccinated — a category many Australians might find themselves in. Here's what you need to know about getting fully vaccinated against measles.

The school-aged child, who was unvaccinated and had no underlying health conditions, died from measles pulmonary failure.

The latest data from Queensland Health shows the number of confirmed dengue fever cases this year are more than four times higher than at the same time in the previous four years.

A Bowen man is believed to be the first Queenslander to die from the mosquito-borne infection since 2022.

WA Health authorities say the number of measles cases is likely to grow in coming days after three more cases were identified during the weekend.

Western Australia's measles outbreak is continuing to worsen, with seven cases now confirmed this year, while New South Wales has issued a measles alert.

The health secretary says the move will reduce "bureaucratic sprawl" but has led to concerns it would lead agencies to drastically scale back their operations.

The Buruli ulcer, a bacterial infection that eats away at skin tissue, affected more than 350 people in Victoria last year. Now there's a new case in NSW.

The administration also plans to scale back efforts to combat malaria, according to documents, but would continue grants for drugs that treat HIV and tuberculosis.

Queenslanders are being warned against getting bitten by mosquitoes after the Japanese encephalitis virus was found in Brisbane. 

A new tool to test for scabies is being trialled by doctors in the Northern Territory, with researchers hoping early diagnosis could prevent people with the skin infestation from developing other life-threatening illnesses.

Health authorities in Townsville are urging people to take precautions following a rare diphtheria diagnosis and a growing cluster of dengue fever infections.