Health authorities in Australia are on alert as measles cases continue to climb, with experts warning that outbreaks overseas could turn the country into "fertile ground" for the disease. New South Wales recorded 18 cases in 2024, up from six the previous year, while Victoria has already seen 13 cases so far this year, compared with 16 in all of 2024.
The warning comes amid significant measles outbreaks in the United States and south-east Asia. In the US, more than 300 cases have been reported, including two deaths in west Texas, the epicentre of the outbreak. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the situation to "expand rapidly".
In south-east Asia, thousands of cases have been reported in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. A returned traveller from Vietnam became a confirmed measles case in Sydney on Tuesday, while a health alert was issued in Perth on Thursday following another case in a returned traveller.
Victoria's chief health officer issued a warning on 14 March after five cases were confirmed in the state, noting that global case numbers were rising in Vietnam, Thailand, India, Africa, Europe, the UK, the Middle East and the US.
Experts say Australia's high vaccination rates offer protection, but the influx of cases from abroad poses a risk of sustained transmission. The trend since 2024 has shown a steady increase in measles cases across the country.
