A rising concern in Australia's healthcare landscape: the resurgence of measles. With 22 cases already reported this year, mirroring a global trend, health experts are sounding the alarm.
Queensland leads the way with eight cases, followed by NSW with seven, and Victoria with five. But here's where it gets controversial: the highly contagious nature of measles, combined with increased international travel post-COVID restrictions, has created a perfect storm.
Indonesia, Australia's top international travel destination in 2023, reported the highest number of cases between June and November 2025, according to the WHO. This has health authorities worried, especially as measles can spread through air conditioning systems, infecting people in different rooms.
'It spreads like wildfire', says Dr Tim Jones, Chair of Child and Young Person's Health at RACGP. Up to nine out of ten people without immunity can catch it after exposure.
The CDC recommends two measles vaccinations, which are 99% effective. However, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are driving factors in the rise of cases. Australian vaccination rates, particularly among children, have dropped in recent years, falling below the 95% target needed for herd immunity.
'Getting harder to convince people to make the right decision', says infectious disease expert Paul Griffin. Jones agrees, attributing the hesitation to COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.
'Families are burnt out after COVID', he explains. But sitting down with families and discussing the risks often changes minds.
Australia faced a major outbreak in 1994, with 4,794 cases. The two-dose vaccination schedule was introduced, and by 2000, rates were high enough to reduce virus circulation. In 2014, measles was declared eliminated in Australia by the WHO, thanks to the vaccine's effectiveness.
'What's kept those numbers down is consistently keeping the measles vaccination rate in Australia over 95%', Jones emphasizes. But with a tripling of cases in the last year, there's cause for concern.
So, what's your take on this? Do you think Australia needs to address vaccine hesitancy more aggressively? Or is the situation not as dire as it seems? Let us know in the comments!
