Sydney, June 20:
Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW) have issued a measles alert after a confirmed case of the disease was detected in a traveler who arrived at Sydney International Airport on Monday, June 17. The individual had recently traveled from Southeast Asia, a region currently experiencing multiple measles outbreaks.
The NSW Health Department has advised that passengers aboard Vietnam Airlines flight VN773, which landed between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and anyone present in the airport’s arrivals or baggage claim areas during that time, should monitor for symptoms of measles for 18 days from the exposure date.
According to Dr. Mitchell Smith, Acting Director of Public Health for South Western Sydney, early symptoms of measles include:
Fever
Sore, red eyes
Runny nose
Cough
These are typically followed a few days later by a red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads across the body.
So far in 2025, 80 measles cases have been confirmed in Australia—up from 57 in 2024 and 26 in 2023, as per the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that measles is a highly contagious viral disease, transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or breathing near an infected person. It primarily affects children but can infect anyone who is unvaccinated. Measles can lead to severe complications and even death.
WHO data also highlights that 107,500 measles-related deaths occurred in 2023, mostly among children under five, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.
Health authorities strongly urge all Australians to ensure they are fully vaccinated to prevent infection and stop further spread of the disease.