Cairns Maternity Ward Added to Measles Exposure List
Health authorities in Far North Queensland are on alert after a measles outbreak in Cairns has now grown to seven confirmed cases. The latest development has seen Cairns Hospital’s maternity ward named as a key exposure site, sparking new mask requirements in some of the hospital’s most vulnerable areas.
The outbreak first began when a tourist returned from Bali and was later diagnosed with measles at the end of August. Since then, the virus has spread locally, particularly among backpackers and travellers in the Cairns region. Four new cases were confirmed this week alone, including some Queensland Health workers, doubling the total to seven. Because measles can linger in a room for several hours even after an infected person has left, the maternity unit is now considered a significant risk location.
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In response, Cairns Hospital has made masks compulsory in the special care nursery, the maternity ward, the cancer care centre, and the intensive care unit. Officials stressed that while masks are not required across the entire hospital, visitors and staff are being strongly encouraged to wear them in all areas. The move is intended to reduce the risk to newborns, cancer patients, and others whose immune systems are especially vulnerable.
Health staff are working quickly to trace contacts and vaccinate those at risk. Temporary vaccination clinics have been set up in Cairns backpacker hostels, and an immunoglobulin clinic has been opened at the hospital for babies and people who cannot be vaccinated. According to Dr Jacqueline Murdoch from the Cairns Public Health Unit, most of the current cases are connected, though one case is still under investigation. She explained that some infected people had already received two doses of the vaccine, but they experienced only mild illness and recovered quickly. This, she noted, is proof that vaccination still offers strong protection.
Cairns Hospital CEO Leena Singh acknowledged it was inevitable that the virus would reach hospital staff and patients, given how contagious measles can be. She said people may be infectious before they even know they are sick, which makes containment challenging. However, staff vaccination records are being checked carefully, and patients who may have been exposed are being monitored.
Public health alerts have been issued for multiple locations across Cairns, Mareeba, and Smithfield, including shops, restaurants, medical centres, and hostels. Experts warn that measles spreads at an extraordinary rate, with a single infected person able to pass the virus to as many as 18 or 20 others if they are unvaccinated.
Residents are being urged to check their vaccination status, watch for symptoms such as fever, watery eyes, and rash, and seek medical advice if unwell. Free measles vaccinations are available through GPs and pharmacies. Authorities are emphasizing that while vaccination rates in the region are high, continued vigilance is needed to stop this outbreak from growing further.
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