Measles alert issued across Queensland tourism hotspots

A measles alert has been issued across a host of Australia’s busiest tourism hotspots, including Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo.

A person infected with measles has travelled around popular Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast tourism spots, as health authorities warn people in those areas to watch for symptoms.

The person arrived from overseas, the Queensland government says, as outbreaks of the disease run rampant across the globe.

The patient visited restaurants, shops, train stations and hostels in the major southeast Queensland city areas from April 2 to April 4.

NSW, Victoria and WA have recorded more measles cases so far this year than in 2024, as southern and South East Asia in particular experience widescale outbreaks.
But so far, Queensland has avoided a notable number of cases.

The infected person visited a string of busy Surfers Paradise businesses. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Metro North Public Health physician Alexandra Uren said anyone who visited the same locations as the infected person needs to monitor themselves for symptoms, for 18 days.

The infected person visited:

Gold Coast

• Yo-chi, 11/3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday April 2, between 10:15am and 11am
• Cotton On, 27 Cahill Ave, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday April 2, between 11am and 12:30pm
• Ghanda Clothing, 25 Cahill Ave Surfers Paradise on Wednesday April 2 between 11am and 12:30pm
• Holey Moley Mini Golf – Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday April 2, between 2:15pm and 3:45pm
• Bunk Hostel, 6 Beach Rd Surfers Paradise, all day Wednesday April 2 and until 10am on Thursday April 3
• Goldies, 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday April 2 between 6:45pm and 8pm.
• Brisbane
• Bunk Hostel, 21 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley on Thursday April 3 and until 7am on Friday April 4
• Brooki Bakehouse, 15 Marshall Street, Fortitude Valley on Thursday April 3 between 12pm and 12:30pm
• Sushi Hub, 136 Queen Street Brisbane on Thursday April 3 between 1:30pm and 2pm
• Cotton On, Queen Adelaide Building 90/90 Queen Street, Brisbane on Thursday April 3 between 2pm and 3:10pm
• Central Station Brisbane on Friday April 4 between 6:45am and 7:30am
• Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Emergency Department waiting room on Friday April 4 between 7:45pm and 11:00pm.
• Sunshine Coast
• Nambour train from Central Station Brisbane to Beerwah Station, on Friday April 4, leaving 7:07am and arriving at 8:27am
• Springfield train from Beerwah Station to Central Station Brisbane on Friday April 4, leaving 5:03pm and arriving 6:26pm
• Australia Zoo on Friday April 4, between 8:30am and 5pm.

Early measles symptoms include a fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and red, inflamed eyes. Those symptoms then progress to a blotchy red rash.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and brain damage, lung and ear infections and severe diarrhoea, and death.

Vaccination is the best preventive measure, and the vaccines are free in Australia. The Covid-19 pandemic seriously hampered measles vaccination and surveillance in countries around the world, leading to a spike in cases.

Children under the age of five are at a higher risk of developing complications after contracting measles.

Originally published as Measles alert issued across Queensland tourism hotspots