Health authorities in Western Australia are urging travellers to South-East Asia to ensure they are vaccinated against measles after two new cases were confirmed in people recently returned from Bali.
The state has now recorded 35 measles cases in 2025 nearly six times last year’s total prompting renewed warnings ahead of the school holidays. WA Health said the latest cases visited multiple locations in Perth, including shopping centres and the airport, while infectious, and advised anyone who may have been exposed to monitor for symptoms.
The new infections bring to five the number of Bali-linked cases detected in Perth between July and September. Authorities are also concerned about local spread, with 10 of the 15 cases recorded in this period acquired within WA. In July, two measles cases at a Pilbara mine site forced staff into isolation.
An outbreak was also declared in Far North Queensland this week, with its latest case linked to Bali travel.
Clare Huppatz from WA Health said that while measles is rare in Australia, large outbreaks overseas particularly in popular holiday destinations pose an ongoing risk. She stressed that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective and free for all Western Australians.
Travellers are advised to ensure their vaccinations are up to date at least two weeks before departure. The state-funded immunisation program now also offers the MMR vaccine to infants aged six to 11 months who are travelling to high-risk countries.
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