Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak in decades continues to grow, with the prime minister joining calls for at-risk people to get vaccinated.
Hundreds of cases have been reported across three states and a territory, with a dip in vaccination rates blamed for the spread of the generally rare respiratory disease.
Anthony Albanese urged people in the outbreak areas to get vaccinated.
"That is the most important thing that people can do," he told reporters.
"The government's taking it seriously."
There were 226 recorded diphtheria cases in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia on Wednesday, up from 223 on Tuesday.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the current outbreak was about 30 times greater than the average number of diphtheria cases recorded nationally over the past five years.
