National health alerts as measles outbreak escalates in Queensland, hospital issues mask mandate

Health authorities have sounded the alarm as measles infections in Far North Queensland doubled this week, with new exposure sites added to the already growing list of public health alerts across the country.

Three more cases have been confirmed in Cairns, bringing the regional total to six.

Officials have now issued an alert after an infectious visitor spent more than eight hours in Cairns Hospital’s maternity ward, prompting masks to become compulsory in the special care nursery, maternity unit, cancer care ward, cancer care centre and intensive care unit.

“While masks are not required in other areas, we strongly encourage everyone attending Cairns Hospital or any of our health facilities to wear one,” a spokesperson said.

“Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with droplets from the nose or mouth.”

The first case in the region was linked to backpacker hostels and traced to a patient who arrived from Bali.

The five additional cases, all believed to be locally acquired, have sparked concern about a spread through restaurants, shops, medical centres and hostels across Cairns as well as sites in Mareeba and Smithfield.

The Cairns outbreak comes amid a wave of measles cases nationwide, many tied to overseas travel.

Western Australia has reported 35 infections this year, with health authorities repeatedly linking clusters to Bali.

Last week, WA Health acting director of communicable diseases Clare Huppatz said measles remained rare in Australia, but large outbreaks were continuing overseas.

“There is an ongoing risk of measles being brought into WA from overseas, especially from popular holiday destinations such as Southeast Asia,” Dr Huppatz said.

“We are fortunate to have the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine which is extremely effective and free to all Western Australians.”

Queensland Health also issued warnings earlier this month after exposures at the Mad Monkey Waterfront hostel in Cairns were tied to travellers from Bali.

Cairns Public Health Unit director Jacqueline Murdoch said there had been several measles outbreaks in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, including Bali.

“If anyone is going to these places over the school holidays or in the upcoming months, please see your GP and make sure you have sufficient immunity to measles,” Dr Murdoch said.

The alerts follow similar cases in South Australia, where a man was diagnosed after returning from Bali in August, and travellers in Adelaide were urged to check exposure sites, including airports and medical centres.

Health officials continue to stress that measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world and spreads easily through coughing and sneezing.

Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes and lethargy, followed by a red blotchy rash that usually begins on the face before spreading across the body.

Vaccination remains the strongest defence, with two doses of the MMR vaccine recommended for full protection.