THE current measles outbreak in Victoria is growing with five further measles cases identified. Two of these cases are domestically acquired and linked to the recent domestic outbreak reported in February. Three cases acquired their infection overseas in Bali. These cases were infectious at multiple locations in Melbourne.
The current outbreak has led to a list of exposure sites, including a number in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The local exposure sites are:
- Frankston Hospital Emergency Department, between 8.15pm Wednesday 12 March and 2.15pm Thursday 13 March
- Frankston Hospital Emergency Department waiting room, Wednesday 12 March 2025 3:20pm to 8:50pm
- Frankston Hospital Emergency Department waiting room, Tuesday 11 March 2025 7:30am to 8:10am
- Frankston Hospital Emergency Department, Tuesday 11 March 2025 7:40am to 4:10pm
- Rosebud Hospital Emergency Department Waiting Room, Tuesday 11 March 2025 12:50am to 7:10am
- Grill’d Burgers, Mornington, 18a Main St, Mornington, Friday 7 March 2025 8:20pm to 9:45pm
- YOMG Mornington, 54 Main St, Mornington, Friday 7 March 2025 7:30pm to 8:45pm
- The Training Ground, Rosebud, 10 Suffolk St, Rosebud, Thursday 6 March 2025 1:30pm to 3:15pm
- The Training Ground, Rosebud, 10 Suffolk St, Rosebud, Wednesday 5 March 2025 8:30am to 10:00am
Anyone who has attended a listed exposure site during the specified times above should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop for up to 18 days after the exposure and follow the recommendations below.
In addition, anyone who presents with signs and symptoms compatible with measles should be tested and notified to the Department of Health immediately. There should be an especially high level of suspicion if they have travelled overseas or visited any of the sites listed above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation (encephalitis). There have been 13 cases of measles identified in Victoria in 2025, with four confirmed cases of local acquisition.
Measles vaccination coverage rates in Australia, while comparatively high, have declined to below the 95% national target since the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost all recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine, showing the highly infectious nature of measles. In one instance, transmission occurred in a primary care waiting room, highlighting the importance of immediate isolation of people with fever and rash who present to healthcare settings.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose, and feeling generally unwell, followed by a red maculopapular rash. The rash usually starts on the face before spreading down the body. Symptoms can develop between 7 to 18 days after exposure.
First published in the Frankston Times – 18 March 2025