The Public Record Office Victoria highlights that prior to the advent of vaccination, measles was a common childhood illness in Australia, characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, sore eyes, and a distinctive red rash. It was so widespread that individuals born before the late 1960s are generally considered immune, as many likely contracted the illness during childhood.
Since the implementation of a comprehensive vaccination program, Australia has successfully eradicated endemic measles, maintaining this status for over ten years.
However, a recent outbreak in South Australia, originating from within a school community, has raised alarms among health officials. This incident is not isolated; Australia is also witnessing its most significant diphtheria outbreak since records began, primarily affecting Indigenous populations in remote and regional areas across multiple states and territories.
But what is driving these outbreaks? Where are the new measles cases emerging from? In 2014, the World Health Organization recognized Australia as free from endemic measles, indicating no sustained local transmission, although imported cases remain a possibility.
The latest outbreak in South Australia was triggered by a traveler who contracted measles abroad, subsequently infecting three students and a middle-aged adult who required hospitalization. The adult had spent over 24 hours in the emergency department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, prompting contact tracing efforts.
This year, South Australia has recorded nine measles cases, the highest number since 2016. Chief Public Health Officer for South Australia, Nicola Spurrier, expressed disappointment at this development, attributing it in part to the spread of anti-vaccination misinformation. She noted a downward trend in vaccination rates since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging the troubling nature of the information circulating outside scientific discourse.
Professor Spurrier, reflecting on her past experiences as a junior registrar, recalled the devastating impact of infectious diseases on young children and emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing such tragedies.
Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist from Adelaide University, indicated that the decline in measles vaccinations is also linked to accessibility issues, such as busy schedules and difficulties in seeing a general practitioner, rather than outright refusal to vaccinate. He pointed to a rise in measles cases globally, with Canada and the UK losing their measles-free status, and the USA likely facing a similar fate soon.
Professor Esterman expressed hope that Australia would maintain its current status, though he acknowledged the risks associated with declining vaccination rates. He noted that childhood diseases, including measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough, which had seen a resurgence in cases in 2024, are all making a comeback due to falling vaccination rates.
Regarding the diphtheria situation, the outbreak has reached over 600 cases, the largest since record-keeping began in 1991, with 22 cases reported in South Australia. This highly contagious bacterial infection, which can affect various parts of the body, is primarily combated through vaccination and antibiotic treatment.
SA Health has reported a stabilization in diphtheria cases in recent weeks, bolstered by the administration of over 4,500 vaccines in northern and southwestern communities. Professor Spurrier expressed satisfaction with the high vaccination rates in the APY Lands, where most cases have occurred, highlighting the community’s positive response to vaccination efforts.
