Sonali Tiwary
A traveller from Bali landed in Brisbane with measles on August 19, triggering health officials to sound the alarm for anyone who might have crossed paths with the infectious person at several locations across southeast Queensland.
From Paradise to Health Scare
The measles carrier flew Jetstar flight JQ60, touching down at Brisbane International Airport at 5:40 am on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Public health tracking shows the person later visited:
Brisbane International Airport (5:40 am–7:10 am, Aug 19) Yamanto Aldi (5:50 pm–6:40 pm, Aug 19) Footes Pharmacy in Boonah (11:30 am–12:00 pm, Aug 23) Boonah Hospital Emergency Department (6:20 pm–11:20 pm, Aug 23)
“Measles is highly contagious and spreads by coughing and sneezing,” said Dr. Catherine Quagliotto from West Moreton Health in the alert. The virus spreads through airborne droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, making it very easy to catch without proper protection.
The Clock Is Ticking
If you were at any of these spots, your body might be harboring the virus without showing signs yet. The bug typically takes 7-10 days to make itself known, though some people don’t develop symptoms until 18 days later.
Watch for fever, tiredness, runny nose, coughing, and red, irritated eyes. Later, a red rash appears, starting on the face and spreading downward.
West Moreton Health advises people who visited these locations to monitor for symptoms for up to three weeks from the exposure date (through September 9 for August 19 sites and through September 13 for August 23 sites).
Shots Save Lives
“Vaccination offers the best protection for both individuals and the community,” Dr. Quagliotto stated in the health alert. National data shows 93.8% of Australian 5-year-olds were fully vaccinated in 2022, though Queensland Health notes coverage has fallen below the 95% target needed for herd immunity against measles.
Free vaccines are available for people born during or since 1966 who haven’t had two doses, international travelers without updated protection, and anyone lacking vaccination records.
Global Comeback
Australia stamped out local measles transmission in 2014, but cases from overseas continue to pop up. The recent Queensland case isn’t isolated—another Jetstar flight from Bali to Perth in July 2025 brought measles to Western Australia, causing several follow-up cases.
The World Health Organization reports that 10.3 million measles infections and an estimated 107,500 deaths occurred in 2023, with substantial increases in multiple regions, including an 11-fold rise in the Americas in early 2025.
If You Think You’ve Been Exposed
For those who visited exposure sites and feel unwell: Call your doctor before showing up Tell them about your potential exposure Stay home to protect others Dial the 13HEALTH hotline (13 43 25 84) for guidance
About 10% of measles cases involve complications; around 1 in 1,000 develop brain inflammation. The virus spreads rapidly, with up to 9 out of 10 non-immune people exposed to an infectious case becoming infected.The alert from West Moreton Health states that while the exposure locations are now safe for visitors, people who were present during the specified times should monitor themselves for symptoms and contact healthcare providers by phone if they develop any signs of infection.
