Health officials have declared a measles outbreak in Far North Queensland, urging travelers to Southeast Asia to ensure they are vaccinated. The outbreak stems from cases linked to Bali travel, with further infections anticipated in Cairns.
The latest confirmed case in Cairns involves a close contact of an individual who was diagnosed after returning from Bali. According to Jacqueline Murdoch, Director of the Cairns Public Health Unit, there are potentially “a couple of hundred” close contacts.
“This case was an unvaccinated contact of our case from last week and we do expect further cases in this outbreak,” Dr. Murdoch stated.
So far, Cairns has reported four measles cases this year, all connected to travel from Bali. Dr. Murdoch highlighted the prevalence of measles outbreaks in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
“We don’t want anyone bringing measles back to Cairns and spreading it in our community,” she emphasized.
Public Health Alert and Exposure Sites
Health officials are urging the public to watch for measles symptoms, particularly if they visited certain locations in Cairns during specific times:
- Mad Monkeys Waterfront backpackers, Saturday, September 6 — Wednesday, September 10
- Rufus Restaurant, Saturday, September 6 (3pm — 10.30pm)
- Cairns GP Superclinic, Wednesday, September 10 (11.30am — 12pm)
Meanwhile, Townsville has also confirmed a measles case after a traveler returned from overseas. Dr. Jason Yates, acting chief medical officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, noted the individual visited Townsville’s CBD, Castletown Shopping Centre, and Strand while infectious.
“If you were in those areas, please try to keep yourself away from the general public, particularly if you’ve got those symptoms,” Dr. Yates advised.
Understanding Measles and Prevention
Measles is highly contagious, often starting with flu-like symptoms such as fever and tiredness, followed by a red blotchy rash. Unvaccinated individuals, including babies and immunocompromised people, are at the greatest risk.
“Please do phone ahead and make the healthcare provider you’re seeing aware so you don’t put any other people at risk in the clinic or emergency department,” Dr. Murdoch urged.
Vaccination remains a critical defense. The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, is first administered to babies at one year of age. Dr. Murdoch stressed the importance of receiving two doses, especially for those traveling overseas.
Vaccination Rates and Herd Immunity
Griffith University virologist Professor Nigel McMillan highlighted the need for a 95% vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity against measles. However, Queensland’s vaccination rate for two-year-olds stands at 90.3%, according to federal health data.
“What we’re seeing now particularly around parts of Noosa and parts of north Queensland is vaccination rates dropping below 90 and, in some cases, nearly to 85 per cent,” Dr. McMillan noted.
Other parts of Australia, including Perth and Melbourne, have also reported locally transmitted measles cases this year. Dr. McMillan expressed concern over the unusual scale of local transmission.
“We’ve not had this sort of local transmission on this sort of scale before,” he remarked.
As health officials continue to monitor the situation, the emphasis remains on vaccination and public awareness to prevent further spread of the virus.
