Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by bacteria that are found in the mouth, throat and nose of an infected person. It can cause a membrane to grow around the inside of the person's throat and choke them, making it hard to swallow or breathe. The bacteria produce a powerful toxin that can spread through the body and cause paralysis and heart failure. About 10% of people who get diphtheria die of it. Earlier in the 20th century, diphtheria caused more deaths in Australia than any other infectious disease. Fortunately, effective vaccines against diphtheria have now made it uncommon in this country.
