The recent measles alerts across South East Queensland are just the tip of the iceberg.
What started as isolated cases has become part of Australia’s most significant measles outbreak in nearly a decade, with health authorities scrambling to contain the spread across multiple states.
Australia has recorded 122 measles cases so far in 2025, already surpassing 2024’s total of 57 cases, and we’re only in October. From Cairns in the far north to Melbourne in the south, health departments are issuing urgent alerts as the highly contagious disease spreads through communities that haven’t seen measles in years.
When 'eliminated' doesn't mean gone forever
The irony isn't lost on health experts. Australia was declared measles-free in 2014 after decades of successful vaccination programmes. Yet here we are, dealing with the largest outbreak since that milestone achievement.
The current surge has caught many off guard. Most cases have been recorded in unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated adults aged 20 to 49 years, but the disease doesn't discriminate.
It spreads wherever it finds susceptible people, regardless of age, education, or social status.
'Australia is currently experiencing higher numbers of imported cases of measles in overseas visitors and residents returning from overseas.'
The perfect storm: Travel and falling immunity
Two factors have created ideal conditions for this outbreak. Vaccination rates dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving pockets of the community vulnerable.
Meanwhile, international travel has resumed with enthusiasm, particularly to Southeast Asian destinations where measles is circulating freely.
Many recent cases have been linked to overseas travel, particularly to Bali, which has become a popular destination for Australian holidaymakers.
What starts as a relaxing tropical getaway can become a public health nightmare when travellers return home unknowingly carrying the virus.
Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in the spotlight
The alerts that have dominated headlines involve specific exposure sites across South East Queensland.
A person attended Clover Hill State School at Mudgeeraba on 7 October while infectious, potentially exposing school children and those using afternoon buses to Austinville.
The Sunshine Coast has been particularly affected, with 16 locations identified where infectious individuals unknowingly spread the virus between 8-13 October.
From the Powerboat Club in Caloundra (visited multiple times) to cafes, restaurants, and major retailers like Woolworths and ALDI, the virus has touched everyday locations where anyone might shop or socialise.
High-risk exposure locations on the Sunshine Coast
- Powerboat Club, Caloundra (multiple dates)
- Woolworths and ALDI Caloundra
- Various cafes and restaurants
- Caloundra Minor Illness and Injury Clinic
- Dates: 8-13 October, 2025
- Anyone at these locations during specified times should monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days
The Cairns cluster raises the stakes
While Queensland's coast grapples with scattered cases, Cairns has declared an official outbreak with at least 12 confirmed cases since 1 September. This cluster includes both imported cases from travellers and locally acquired infections—the kind of community transmission health authorities had hoped to avoid.
The Cairns outbreak has reached into sensitive settings, including hospital maternity wards, raising concerns about protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.
What this means if you're over 60
Here's some reassuring news for many readers: people born before 1966 are generally considered immune due to widespread measles circulation during their early years.
If you grew up in the 1950s or early 1960s, you likely caught measles as a child and developed lifelong immunity the hard way.
However, this natural immunity comes with caveats. Age can weaken immune systems, and if you're caring for grandchildren or have health conditions that compromise immunity, the risk calculation changes.
More importantly, protecting family members who might not be immune becomes crucial.
The vaccination puzzle for seniors
While the National Immunisation Program doesn't cover booster vaccines for seniors, you can purchase additional vaccines privately if needed. The decision isn't straightforward—if you were born before 1966, you probably don't need a vaccination.
If you were born later, especially between 1966 and 1994, you might benefit from checking your immunity status.
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is available through GPs and costs around $40-60 privately.
For many seniors, the bigger question isn't personal protection but family protection. Ensuring you can't inadvertently carry the virus to vulnerable grandchildren or immunocompromised relatives might justify the expense.
Did you know?
Children born in the 1960s and 1970s often received only one dose of measles vaccine, making them more susceptible to infection as adults.
Did you know?
Two-dose schedule introduced in 1992 explains why breakthrough infections are occurring in people aged 20-60.
Recognising the enemy: Measles symptoms
Measles doesn't announce itself politely. Initial symptoms include fever, lethargy, runny nose, cough, and sore red eyes—easily mistaken for a heavy cold or flu.
The telltale rash appears several days later, starting on the face and spreading across the body in a distinctive blotchy pattern.
The disease is remarkably contagious. One person with measles can infect 12-18 others in an unvaccinated community. The virus lingers in the air for hours after an infected person leaves a room, making casual contact sufficient for transmission.
Taking practical action
Queensland Health urges anyone who visited the identified exposure sites during the specified times to monitor for symptoms for up to three weeks.
If symptoms develop, arrange testing through your GP or call 13 HEALTH for advice. Most importantly, avoid public spaces if you suspect measles—the virus spreads too easily to risk casual contact with others.
For those unsure about their vaccination status, a blood test can determine immunity levels.
Your GP can order serology testing, though results take several days. If you're planning overseas travel, particularly to Southeast Asia, ensuring adequate protection beforehand is wise.
The bigger picture: Protecting community immunity
This outbreak serves as a reminder that 'eliminated' diseases can return quickly when conditions allow. Measles requires around 95 per cent community immunity to prevent outbreaks—a threshold that becomes harder to maintain as vaccination rates decline and travel increases.
Essential steps for seniors during measles outbreaks
- Born before 1966? You're likely naturally immune
- Check with your GP if you're unsure about vaccination status
- Monitor for symptoms if you visited exposure sites
- Consider vaccination if you have immunocompromised family members
- Avoid public spaces if symptoms develop
- Call 13 HEALTH for advice rather than visiting busy clinics
The good news is that measles remains preventable. The vaccine is highly effective, and Australia's public health system is experienced in outbreak response. However, this surge demonstrates that diseases we thought were relegated to history can quickly resurface when we let our guard down.
The alerts across Queensland's coast might feel distant if you're elsewhere in Australia, but measles doesn't respect state borders. Cases have appeared in multiple jurisdictions, and with continued international travel, more are likely.
Staying informed about your own immunity status and that of your family members is the best defence against becoming part of measles' unwelcome return to Australian communities.
What's your experience with measles vaccination or illness? Have the recent health alerts prompted you to check your immunity status? Share your thoughts and questions with fellow readers below.
Seniors Discount Club
Latest Articles
-
When Halloween horror goes too far: Parents push back against ‘graphic’ store displays
- Started by Maan
- Replies: 8
-
-
-
Treat your best mate to a better bowl: Black Hawk’s new High Meat Range is 25% off at Petstock
- Started by Aubrey Razon
- Replies: 0
-
The popular bowl everyone’s rushing to make—and why you can’t find cottage cheese anywhere
- Started by Maan
- Replies: 0
.png){kind=icon}
