Measles alert issued across popular south-east attractions

People who visited popular tourist locations in the south-east from Wednesday to Friday have been urged to monitor symptoms of measles, after Queensland Health confirmed an active case in the community.

Brisbane’s North Metro Health Service confirmed a traveller had been unknowingly contagious during the week while travelling across the region.

Locations include Australia Zoo, Surfers Paradise, popular patisserie Brooki Bakehouse, Queen Street Mall and Central Station at various times from Wednesday to Friday.

Queensland Health has warned the public of an active measles case in the state’s south-east from Wednesday to Saturday, including locations across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast.Credit: Getty / Tammy Law

Public health physician Dr Alexandra Uren urged anyone who had been around the infected person to monitor symptoms.

“Measles symptoms typically start between seven and 18 days after infection,” she said.

“Early symptoms of measles include a fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and red, inflamed eyes.”

Uren said a recognisable “blotchy red rash” can take several days to appear, often beginning from the face before spreading to the body.

The disease was spread by droplets in coughs and sneezes, so the locations did not pose any ongoing risk to people visiting them from Sunday onwards.

Queensland Health urged those experiencing symptoms to stay home, and seek treatment where necessary.

“Anyone seeking treatment for an illness they think could be measles should call ahead before visiting their GP or medical practice to allow precautions to be taken that can prevent the illness spreading to others,” Uren said.

Testing is available at GPs and some hospitals in Brisbane, although medical experts advised anyone who suspected they had measles to stay away from public spaces and call their doctor or a health professional for advice.

Queensland recorded nine cases of measles in 2024, up from five in 2023.

Most people who contract the disease recover well, although three in 10 will be admitted to hospital.

The health department advised good hygiene practices as well as vaccination for anyone considered at-risk, including anyone who was born after 1965 unvaccinated, had never contracted measles before, or was immunocompromised.

Most Australians are fully vaccinated against measles – with a 93.8 per cent uptake in children over five – with the government offering a free two-dose vaccine program for infants.

The vaccine is also free for adults under 20 or entering the country for humanitarian reasons who need a catch-up vaccination.

People who have already been vaccinated or previously contracted measles are unlikely to become reinfected. There is no booster shot for the MMR/MMRV vaccines.

Brisbane City Council offers free vaccination for measles at select pharmacies, GPs, and community care clinics.

Vaccination is not possible for people who might be pregnant, have a compromised immune system, or have had allergic reactions to any previous dose or component of a measles vaccine.

More information on the disease is available by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visiting the Queensland Health website.