An outbreak of measles linked to healthcare services in Far North Queensland, 2025

Authors

  • Tonia Marquardt Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Simon Smith Cairns Hospital, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
  • Juliet Esmonde Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
  • Matthew O’Bryan Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia; Rural Clinical School, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
  • Lucy Thallon Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
  • Alireza Zahedi Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
  • Trent Yarwood Cairns Hospital, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia; School of Public Health, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Rural Clinical School, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
  • Jacqueline Murdoch Cairns Public Health Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia; School of Public Health, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2026.50.037

Keywords:

public health, outbreak, measles, healthcare services, vaccination

Abstract

In September 2025, Cairns experienced its largest measles outbreak since 1997. An imported case from Indonesia subsequently transmitted to 11 secondary cases, including four hospital staff. No further transmission was identified despite identification of nearly 1,500 contacts. Most of the cases (11/12; 91.6%) reported or demonstrated prior vaccination or immunity. This outbreak demonstrates the continued potential for re-emergence of measles in a setting with validated elimination status; the outbreak resulted in disruption to healthcare staff and services. Australian healthcare services should consider use of measles serology and booster vaccination doses among susceptible healthcare workers to reduce the risk of future similar outbreaks.

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References

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Dark and light blue shapes displaying the logo of Communicable Diseases Intelligence with a celebration graphic for Volume 50. The bottom of the cover features a lockup of the logo of the Australian Centre for Disease Control alongside the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

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Published

26/05/26

How to Cite

Marquardt, Tonia, Simon Smith, Juliet Esmonde, Matthew O’Bryan, Lucy Thallon, Alireza Zahedi, Trent Yarwood, and Jacqueline Murdoch. 2026. “An Outbreak of Measles Linked to Healthcare Services in Far North Queensland, 2025”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 50 (May). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2026.50.037.

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Vol. 50 (2026)

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