Measles Alert Issued to Tasmanian Clinicians Amid Growing Cases Internationally

Strategic Insights -

Measles cases have been increasing globally, prompting an alert from Tasmania's Director of Public Health, Mark Veitch, to healthcare providers in the state. The warning comes as countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Africa, Europe, and the UK, the Middle East, and North America experience outbreaks of the highly infectious disease. In Australia, there have been 57 reported cases in 2025, compared to just 20 in the entire year of 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Director of Public Health, Mark Veitch, has issued an alert to Tasmanian clinicians due to growing cases of measles internationally, citing outbreaks in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Africa, Europe, the UK, the Middle East, and North America.
  • In Australia, there have been 57 reported cases of measles in 2025, a significant increase from the 20 cases reported in the entire year of 2024.
  • The highest number of cases in Australia this year have been reported in NSW (20), Victoria (18), and Western Australia (15).
  • Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory have yet to report any cases of measles in 2025.
  • Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and a red rash, which typically starts on the face and moves down the body.
  • Health workers are advised to mask and isolate patients suspected of having measles, and only fully vaccinated staff should continue to have contact with the patient.
  • The National Immunisation Program recommends and provides free measles vaccines for children aged 12-18 months and for those born during or after 1966 without documented evidence of two measles vaccines.

Statistics:

  • 57 reported cases of measles in Australia in 2025.
  • 20 reported cases of measles in Australia in 2024.
  • 20 cases in NSW, 18 in Victoria, and 15 in Western Australia in 2025.
  • 2 cases in Queensland and 3 in South Australia in 2025.
  • 0 cases in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory in 2025.
  • Symptoms of measles include fever (100-104°F), cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and a red rash.

Sources:

  • Tasmanian clinicians and primary care providers alerted to increased risk of measles by The Director of Public Health Mark Veitch