A serious outbreak of a disease most developed countries have relegated to the "dustbin of history" occurred despite high children vaccination rates, the government says.
More than 230 diphtheria cases have been recorded across Australia in mostly Indigenous communities in the year to date - about 30 times the usual yearly average.
About 60 per cent of cases of the potentially deadly disease have been in the Northern Territory, with more infections in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
One of Australia's worst diphtheria outbreaks triggered a $7.2 million federal cash injection to help control the spread as authorities stressed the importance of getting vaccinated.
"Obviously something has gone wrong to have a disease that most developed countries have assigned to the dustbin of history," Federal Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC Radio National on Friday.
