Health authorities in New South Wales and South Australia have issued alerts after a newborn contracted measles on a flight, part of a growing cluster of infections linked to international travel. The Boxing Day cluster, believed to originate from a single infectious traveller, has now reached seven cases across multiple states.
In South Australia, an adult who caught the virus abroad visited Westfield Marion and Event Cinemas on Boxing Day, followed by Cockles Cafe in Port Elliot on 28 December. The next day, the person flew from Adelaide to Sydney on Qantas flight QF748, prompting contact tracing for fellow passengers and airport visitors. NSW has confirmed three cases in the past week, all involving travellers returning from south-east Asia.
Nationally, Australia recorded 168 measles cases in 2025, nearly three times the 57 cases in 2024. Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance shows early childhood vaccination coverage has fallen to 89.7% for two-year-olds, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. The number of children receiving their first MMR dose on schedule has dropped by 11.4 percentage points compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Professor Peter Collignon, a microbiologist at the Australian National University, said there was no immediate threat of a national epidemic but warned that declining vaccination rates allow the virus to spread more easily. He noted that international travel to areas with low vaccination rates is the primary driver of the current cluster.
Authorities urge anyone born after 1966 who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine to get a free booster. Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash. The virus is airborne and can linger in a room for up to 30 minutes after an infected person leaves.
