Measles cases across the country reach highest levels in six years
The National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System shows 71 measles cases have been reported across the country this year so far.
This already exceeds the total for 2024 and is the highest number recorded since 2019, when there were 284 cases.
This year, 14 cases were reported in people aged 25-29 years old, and children aged 0-4 years old had the second highest number of infections recorded.
In 2025, Victoria had recorded 26 infections, New South Wales 21, and Western Australia 18.
Health officials have issued a nationwide call to prevent the spread.
In April, medical professionals urged travellers to stay vigilant amid a global rise in cases in the United States and other parts of the world.
Ramya Raman, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners vice-president and Western Australia chair, told the ABC the rise in cases could be because people were travelling overseas more frequently.
The vaccination rate could also be a contributing factor, Dr Raman said.
"We are below the 95 per cent vaccination rate that we need for herd immunity, so overseas arrivals and local infection spreading and the infectiousness of the actual condition is probably all contributing to that," she said.
The measles virus has not been widely circulating in Australia for some time, largely due to many people already receiving double dose vaccinations, reducing the chances of catching the virus.
Studies suggest that one bout of measles usually results in lifelong immunity
Two doses of the MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) vaccine was introduced to the national childhood immunisation schedule in the early 90s.
But Australians born before then might have received only one dose and be "partially vaccinated", Dr Raman said.
"If you were born after 1965 and haven't already had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, you can get up to two free MMR vaccinations through your GP," she said.
Measles is a highly infectious, itchy rash with a fever, which typically affects children, but medicos are now seeing a spike in older age groups.
People struck down with measles usually have a rash and flu-like symptoms.
It begins with the "prodrome phase" which lasts about two to four days.
A person can experience a fever that exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, as well as a cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis — redness and swelling of the eyes.
"Often, patients look quite unwell during this time as well, and then as the illness progresses, the rash starts," Dr Raman said.
The measles rash usually begins three to five days after the prodrome phase.
The rash is usually red, and raised, and can be flat. It typically starts on the face, around the hairline, and then spreads down into the neck, the trunk, the arms, legs, and feet.
"[The measles rash] is initially spotty, then merges over time to become blotchy patches. And it's always a little bit trickier to see these spots on patients with darker skin tones," Dr Raman said.
Measles can be a nasty virus, especially for the vulnerable, elderly or immunocompromised.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends vaccination for people born during or since 1966 who have not received the two doses, particularly healthcare workers, childhood educators, and carers.
Dr Raman suggests pregnant women should not get the vaccine but instead speak with their GP.
She said it was important to see a healthcare professional if you suspect you have the measles to prevent its spread.
"This is a highly contagious virus, but it's also important for patients to seek medical attention if they're not feeling quite well."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
'10 times stronger than fentanyl': What's in party drugs?
It may look like a lolly, but there's nothing sweet about this strong synthetic opioid. Invented in the 1950s, is resurfacing in recreational drugs in Australia and has been linked to dozens of overdoses already. So, why now is the government defunding fixed site drug testing? Damien Carrick from ABC Radio National's The Law Report explains. Hear the story now on the ABC listen app:
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Widow says husband's last days are proof of WA's 'broken' health system
Kevin Cross had lay bleeding while ramped outside a hospital, was shifted to five different beds in one day, was cared for by an exhausted staff and faced delay upon delay. His wife, Jenny Cross, said that was the reality of navigating Western Australia's struggling public health system with her late husband. It was a six-month ordeal of emotional distress as Ms Cross searched for answers to his deteriorating health. "Just after Christmas last year he had started to lose a lot of weight for no known reason," Ms Cross said. "He had a bad bleed in March so I took him to the emergency department in Busselton." Mr Cross waited 12 hours to be transferred from Busselton Health Campus to Bunbury Regional Hospital, only to spend another three hours ramped outside. Within 24 hours he had been moved between five different beds. Ms Cross said there was no communication between the hospitals about a blood transfusion Mr Cross desperately needed. "They gave him a CT scan and couldn't see anything wrong so he was just sent home with a referral for a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy," she said. "The results were nothing, apparently. I tried to book a PET scan he had a referral for but I never heard back. Mr Cross was in and out of hospital over the next six months as his condition deteriorated. Ms Cross recalled PA announcements in Bunbury Hospital asking for staff to work overtime. She also said she had specialists advising them to have tests as outpatients to save time. In the end, the Cross family "gave up" on the public health system and took Kevin to St John of God Murdoch. After 15 days in the hospital he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on July 3. By then his organs were failing and his heart was operating at just 10 per cent of its usual strength. Mr Cross died two weeks later on July 18, leaving behind his wife, three children and eight grandchildren. Ms Cross said Kevin would be remembered for his warm and friendly nature. "Anyone you spoke to would say he was a really nice guy who would do anything to help you if he could," Ms Cross said. "I don't know if an earlier diagnosis would have made any difference in the end, but he could have been a lot more comfortable and had more time." She said she knew the system was bad but did not fully understand until she experienced it with her husband. Australian Medical Association WA branch president Kyle Hoath said the issues described by Ms Cross, including ramping, bed shuffling and general delays, were apparent across the entire public health system. "It breaks my heart when we hear this happening, particularly in the regions," Dr Hoath said. "But unfortunately none of this surprises me anymore. "It's a symptom of a larger problem — we don't have enough staff capacity and burnout rates are high in Bunbury." In June, ambulances spent 240 hours ramped in regional areas, with Bunbury Hospital accounting for 85 per cent of total ramping. Dr Hoath said the Cook government needed to acknowledge the problem so solutions could be found. "Bunbury is just under intense pressure right now." The state government and WA Country Health Service were contacted for comment. Meanwhile, Ms Cross said she and her family had been left to deal with losing Mr Cross. "They [the state government] just need to listen and understand it's actual human beings they're dealing with," she said. "And stop wasting so much money on stuff like that racetrack, the rugby and movie sets. Just listen to what people want. "We're not just statistics, we're real people with real families and real lives to live."
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Mental health patient calls for improved regional services to reduce trauma
Patients receiving public mental health care in regional New South Wales, and their families, claim the system is broken. They say critical gaps in care are traumatising people and leading to tragic consequences. WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide and sexual abuse and may be distressing for some readers. It follows an ABC Four Corners investigation documenting the mental health crisis in major Sydney hospitals. Carers and patients have contacted the ABC claiming the mental health system in the regions was under mounting pressure even before a mass walkout of public psychiatrists earlier this year. Jane — her real name withheld for privacy reasons — has been receiving treatment for clinical depression, borderline personality disorder and suicidal ideation in the Illawarra mental health system for more than 20 years. She said she lost all trust in the public system when she was allegedly sexually assaulted while heavily sedated in an Illawarra mental health unit more than a decade ago. "I can, I remember their faces because they were laughing at me during the assault," she said. Jane said she was traumatised by the incident and did not feel safe reporting the assault while still in the unit. She said the experience still impacted the way she engaged with mental health services. The ABC contacted the lllawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) about Jane's allegation to which they responded in a statement to say it "has not received a formal complaint matching the allegations raised". "NSW Health staff are required to share information with NSW Police about reports of sexual assault if the alleged perpetrator is identified as a NSW Health staff member," a spokesperson said. Jane said she had been unable to access a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis and claimed the lack of continuity of care felt like she was being pushed out of the system. "There is little to no access to psychiatrists once you have left hospital or if you have been treated as an outpatient within a community mental health service," she said. In an effort to seek psychiatric help, Jane visited a private practitioner she could not afford. "I ended up paying $800 for a one-hour video consult, of which I received $245 back on Medicare," she said. Jane's mental health counsellor, Jodie Park, said continuity of care was important for patients such as Jane. "She can access a very short-term mental health intervention after a presentation to emergency, but it's not an ongoing thing," Dr Park said. "So she gets some very short-term advice and support, she may have a suggestion of a different diagnosis, but then she doesn't have any continuation of care to check on that stuff." Dr Park said on one occasion, Jane, unable to book a psychiatric consultation, stopped taking a medication that was giving her nightmares. "It is really dangerous if you need medication to remain stable," Dr Park said. ISLHD said it provided treatment in the community and in a hospital setting, including emergency care and short terms interventions. It said it tailored treatment to the needs of the individuals and, where relevant, their family and carers. Burrill Lake resident Carolyn Hogan said she noticed gaps in mental health support when her son Connor, who lived with schizophrenia, was discharged from care. Connor had been regularly attending Queanbeyan Mental Health Service to receive his medication intravenously as an outpatient. In early 2022 he was deemed stable and discharged with oral medication. Ms Hogan said her son eventually stopped taking his medication and became unwell again, suffering psychotic episodes. "I didn't really know what to do at that stage," Ms Hogan said. "Several months later he just sneakily took his own life with the medication that was prescribed to him supposedly to help him with his schizophrenia. She said there was a shortfall when people were discharged with a serious mental illness. "There is nothing, you are just discharged into the ether," she said. Ms Hogan said prior to her son's death, her only avenue for care was the emergency department which she knew would worsen his psychosis. "It is entirely inappropriate for the staff who are not trained for these scenarios, or for the patients which require specialised attention," she said. "Anyone else with a life-threatening illness would never be discharged and left to fend for themselves." A spokesperson for the Southern NSW Local Health District said "we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Connor Hogan". The LHD said it would not comment on Connor Hogan's case for privacy reasons but said "wherever possible, staff involved consumers, their families, and carers in decisions about admission, transfer, leave, and in discharge planning". In January, more than 180 public health psychiatrists were set to resign due to concerns over working conditions. Many had since taken up work as locums or casuals across various regions. The deputy chair of the NSW College of Psychiatrists, Ian Korbel, said this made it unlikely patients would continue to see the same psychiatrist. "It means that there is a difficulty with continuity of care, especially in the community teams, where if you were to see a psychiatrist the chance of you seeing the same psychiatrist again would be very low," Dr Korbel said. He said he believed the community teams, designed to keep patients out of hospitals, were not being prioritised. "The difficulty is we have had quite a large increase in demand for that type of service and we haven't had any increase in workforce — and that precedes any resignations. A NSW Health spokesperson acknowledged ongoing difficulties due to a shortage of psychiatrists. "We are doing all we can to ensure we have as many appropriately qualified professionals available to perform the very important functions of psychiatrists in the public health system," the spokesperson said. "More visiting medical officers and locums are being employed, a psychiatry workforce plan will roll out from 2026, and the current budget has allocated $30.4 million to expand community mental health teams across targeted areas." Overall, the NSW government said it was investing more than $3.1 billion in mental health services in 2025-26.
