World News
Measles is back’: Case numbers smash 2024 figures, global outbreaks continue
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Victory topal
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Apr 9, 2025
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16 Views
NewsWire
01:59
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Victoria and NSW are set to smash last year’s measles case numbers and Western Australia has already surpassed its 2024 total in three months.
The virus is running rampant in every global region but particularly in south and Southeast Asia.
NSW’s top doctor has warned that children being given just one vaccine dose in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s has left a vaccination gap in the general public.
Through just the first few months of this year, Australia is on track for its worst year of measles since 2019. So far this year, 46 cases have been reported. Last year, 57 cases were reported in total.
To start 2025, NSW has recorded 19 cases – one more than all of 2024 – and Victoria has had 13 cases after 17 infections in 2024. Western Australia has had 12 cases this year as of Thursday, last year’s total.
The infection numbers are spread relatively evenly across newborns and toddlers, up to people 49 years of age. A measles infection can start as flu-like symptoms and then shows up as a non-itchy, red and blotchy rash. Infections of the lung, ear or brain inflammation can follow.
People who are not vaccinated, have weakened immune systems, children aged under five, adults over the age of 20 and pregnant women are most at risk.
Vaccine and public health expert Frank Beard told NewsWire the measles cases in Australia at the moment were a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically a decline in vaccination rates in developing countries.
The percentage of Australian children fully vaccinated has ticked down one to two percentage points since the pandemic to about 93 per cent.To start 2025, NSW has recorded 19 cases – one more than all of 2024 – and Victoria has had 13 cases after 17 infections in 2024. Western Australia has had 12 cases this year as of Thursday, last year’s total.
The infection numbers are spread relatively evenly across newborns and toddlers, up to people 49 years of age. A measles infection can start as flu-like symptoms and then shows up as a non-itchy, red and blotchy rash. Infections of the lung, ear or brain inflammation can follow.
People who are not vaccinated, have weakened immune systems, children aged under five, adults over the age of 20 and pregnant women are most at risk.
Vaccine and public health expert Frank Beard told NewsWire the measles cases in Australia at the moment were a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically a decline in vaccination rates in developing countries.
The percentage of Australian children fully vaccinated has ticked down one to two percentage points since the pandemic to about 93 per cent.
01:59
Texas child is first reported US measles death in a decade
A child in West Texas has died of measles, state health officials said on Wednesday,... more
View more related videos
Victoria and NSW are set to smash last year’s measles case numbers and Western Australia has already surpassed its 2024 total in three months.
The virus is running rampant in every global region but particularly in south and Southeast Asia.
NSW’s top doctor has warned that children being given just one vaccine dose in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s has left a vaccination gap in the general public.
Through just the first few months of this year, Australia is on track for its worst year of measles since 2019. So far this year, 46 cases have been reported. Last year, 57 cases were reported in total.
To start 2025, NSW has recorded 19 cases – one more than all of 2024 – and Victoria has had 13 cases after 17 infections in 2024. Western Australia has had 12 cases this year as of Thursday, last year’s total.
The infection numbers are spread relatively evenly across newborns and toddlers, up to people 49 years of age. A measles infection can start as flu-like symptoms and then shows up as a non-itchy, red and blotchy rash. Infections of the lung, ear or brain inflammation can follow.
People who are not vaccinated, have weakened immune systems, children aged under five, adults over the age of 20 and pregnant women are most at risk.
Vaccine and public health expert Frank Beard told NewsWire the measles cases in Australia at the moment were a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically a decline in vaccination rates in developing countries.
The percentage of Australian children fully vaccinated has ticked down one to two percentage points since the pandemic to about 93 per cent.To start 2025, NSW has recorded 19 cases – one more than all of 2024 – and Victoria has had 13 cases after 17 infections in 2024. Western Australia has had 12 cases this year as of Thursday, last year’s total.
The infection numbers are spread relatively evenly across newborns and toddlers, up to people 49 years of age. A measles infection can start as flu-like symptoms and then shows up as a non-itchy, red and blotchy rash. Infections of the lung, ear or brain inflammation can follow.
People who are not vaccinated, have weakened immune systems, children aged under five, adults over the age of 20 and pregnant women are most at risk.
Vaccine and public health expert Frank Beard told NewsWire the measles cases in Australia at the moment were a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically a decline in vaccination rates in developing countries.
The percentage of Australian children fully vaccinated has ticked down one to two percentage points since the pandemic to about 93 per cent.