Here’s where the controversy begins... A measles outbreak could spread nationally after this weekend’s AFL grand final. Experts warn a measles outbreak could reach Queensland and even Melbourne. There are currently around 20 active cases of measles in Queensland, with the largest cluster in the Cairns area of the state’s far north. There are also smaller clusters in central Queensland and the Gold Coast, with a single case confirmed in Brisbane on Thursday. (https://7news.com.au/news/qld) [Download the 7NEWS app now] With up to 30,000 Brisbane Lions fans predicted to travel from Queensland to Melbourne for the match against Geelong, epidemiologists warn of the highly contagious virus spreading. The director of infectious diseases at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, Paul Griffin, was once the No.1 Lions ticketholder and will be among 100,000 others for the big match on Saturday. He described the return of the virus as a ‘terrible tragedy.’ ‘Fleeting contact or being in the same room as someone two hours after they were infected can lead to infection,’ he said. While he admits it unlikely a person with measles will attend, he noted that for every known case, there are likely to be 16–20 unknown cases. Measles was eradicated in Australia in 2014 but has made a comeback as vaccination rates declined. Over 120 cases have been logged so far in 2025. Griffin put the return of the virus as a ‘terrible tragedy.’ He emphasized that this is our biggest outbreak since 2019, with a current trajectory suggesting continued growth. Vaccination rates in Queensland dropped to 90.35%, below the target of 95%. The decline is attributed to misinformation about vaccines during the pandemic and complacency about the severity of the illness. Griffin highlighted that measles is more than a harmless childhood disease; it can cause severe complications like pneumonia and brain swelling, affecting enough people to present a significant challenge. In the US, rising case numbers and associated deaths suggest a resurgence, which should not happen again in Australia.
