Measles outbreak declared in Cairns after traveller infected in Bali visited backpacker hostel

Health authorities in Far North Queensland have declared a measles outbreak in Cairns after several cases were detected following the arrival of an infected traveller who had contracted the virus in Bali.

The initial patient is believed to have been infected at the end of August and visited Cairns while contagious. A second person who stayed at the Mad Monkey Waterfront backpackers is thought to have contracted measles at the hostel, and public health officials say they expect further cases as contact tracing continues.

Cairns Public Health Unit director Jacqueline Murdoch told ABC News that there may be "a couple of hundred" close contacts to date and that some of those contacts were unvaccinated. “This case was an unvaccinated contact of our case from last week and we do expect further cases in this outbreak,” she said. Murdoch warned there were ongoing measles outbreaks in parts of southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, and urged travellers to check their immunity before departure.

Authorities have identified three busy exposure sites and times in Cairns. People who visited Mad Monkey Waterfront backpackers between September 6 and 10, Rufus Restaurant on September 6 between 3 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Cairns GP Superclinic on September 10 between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. have been asked to be alert for symptoms. A full list of exposure locations in Queensland is available on the state government website.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Health officials say viral particles can linger and infect others who enter the same room even after the infectious person has left. A person is generally considered infectious from shortly before symptoms appear until four days after a rash develops.

Typical early symptoms include fever, fatigue and cough, followed by a blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body, runny nose, red or sore eyes, and small white spots inside the mouth. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis or middle ear infections. Globally, measles remains a leading cause of death among children under five in some regions where vaccination coverage is low.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service advised anyone with symptoms to call their general practitioner or emergency department for assessment and to avoid waiting in shared clinical areas. “Measles can be a serious illness. Everyone should ensure they are vaccinated for measles, particularly if you are due to travel overseas,” the service said.

People who have been vaccinated against measles or previously had the disease are very unlikely to become infected after exposure, health officials said. Cairns has an estimated childhood vaccination rate of about 92 percent for children under five, with coverage higher among older children, according to reporting by the ABC.

A separate, unlinked case has also been confirmed in Townsville, Queensland health authorities said. Contact tracing and public health notifications remain ongoing as officials continue to identify and inform people who may have been exposed.

Health authorities reiterated advice for travellers to check immunisation status with their general practitioner before overseas travel and for the public to seek medical advice promptly if measles symptoms develop.