Gympie Health expert refutes Facebook claims of measles outbreak

Claims on social media of a measles outbreak in Gympie have been refuted by the state’s health services, who say there have been no reports of the disease in the region.

Claims on social media of a measles outbreak in Gympie have been refuted by the state’s health services, who say there have been no reports of the disease in the region.

Claims on social media of a measles outbreak in Gympie have been refuted by the state’s health services, who say there have been no reports of the disease in the region.

Concerns about a possible outbreak were sparked by a shared comment attributed to an “anonymous post” on Monday night alleging “confirmed cases of measles in Gympie”.

“Unfortunately my 8 month old daughter contracted it and it has been absolutely horrifying to watch,” the post said.

“We have been on isolation so we have not been out about.

“Public health called me to do tracing and the only place my daughter went with me was to Centro.

Claims on social media of a measles outbreak in Gympie have been refuted by the state’s health services, who say there have been no reports of the disease in the region.

“Unfortunately there is another confirmed case who is not isolating.

“So I just want to warn other parents and people to just be aware and watch out for symptoms.”

The post, which attracted more than 70 comments and 160 likes and responses in less than a day, was refuted on Tuesday by a spokeswoman for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service who said “we have no confirmed measles cases”.

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services covers the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.

As of April 16 the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners had reported 59 measles cases across the country in 2025.

This was two more than had been recorded for the whole of 2024.

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The post, which attracted more than 70 comments and 160 likes and responses in less than a day, was refuted on Tuesday by a spokeswoman for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service who said “we have no confirmed measles cases”.

The biggest outbreak of the disease was in New South Wales where 20 cases had been reported.

Another 18 cases were identified in Victoria, and 15 in Western Australia.

There had only been two cases of the disease reported in Queensland.

In an April 15 letter to medical colleagues, Australian Chief Medical Officer Prof Anthony Lawler urged people to get vaccinated against the disease.

“It is important to remember that measles is a vaccine-preventable disease,” Mr Lawler said.

“I am concerned by declining vaccination rates, which currently sit below the target of 95 per cent required for herd immunity.

“I urge you to remind your patients that vaccination is the best protection against measles.

“Measles is a very serious and highly transmissible disease.

“In an unvaccinated or under-vaccinated population, a single contagious person can potentially infect up to 18 other people.

“Measles can cause complications in up to one in three unvaccinated people.

“Significant complications include brain swelling, pneumonia, pregnancy loss, and lasting disability such as deafness, seizures, and serious movement problems.

“A small number of people die from progressive brain inflammation many years after their initial infection.”

Originally published as Gympie Health expert refutes Facebook claims of measles outbreak