WA measles outbreak expands, with case visiting pub

A measles outbreak in one Australian state has expanded, with chemists, a pub, prisons and hospitals all listed as exposure locations.

Measles is on the rise in Australia, with the most recent data revealing 46 cases have been reported nationally so far this year. Picture: Getty

One Australian state is desperately trying to contain a measles outbreak, with infected people visiting 53 locations in just over three weeks, including a busy pub.

There have been 12 cases of confirmed measles cases in Western Australia since March 19. The most recent, identified on April 2, is linked to a case in a person who recently returned from Pakistan.

The other 10 are part of a larger outbreak involving Hakea Prison, Bunbury Regional Prison and Bunbury Regional Hospital, a statement from WA Health said.

Exposure locations have been listed in Perth’s south east, and include the CY O’Connor Village Pub and an IGA in Piara Waters, as well as a chemist warehouse in the suburb.

Anyone who attended the exposure locations during the dates and times listed is urged to monitor for symptoms.

A full list is available at health.wa.gov.au.

Measles is a highly infectious virus, with Australians urged to ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Picture: ACS

Early symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, with a red, non-itchy rash emerging three or four days later.

WA Health says the rash typically starts on a person’s face, spreading to the rest of the body.

Measles can lead to serious health complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.

The highly infectious virus is particularly dangerous for babies under 12 months, as they are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Measles was declared to have been eradicated from Australia in 2014.

While there have been small, contained outbreaks in the years since, a disturbing trend is now emerging, with cases rising steadily since 2021, the last time there was zero cases reported in Australia.

In 2022, there were seven, 26 were reported in 2023, and in 2024 there were 57.

The most recent data available from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System reveals there have been at least 46 cases of measles reported in 2025 to date.

WA health has urged anyone planning overseas travel to ensure they have received appropriate routine and travel vaccinations, including two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Originally published as WA measles outbreak expands, with case visiting pub