Measles case in Adelaide 16 November 2025

16 November 2025

SA Health has been notified of a case of measles in a child from who was exposed overseas. This is the sixth case in 2025, with six cases notified in 2024. The case was in the settings listed below whilst infectious. People in these settings at the specified times may have been exposed:

  • One Healthcare Woodside 14th November 2025, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
  • Mount Barker District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital 14th November 2025, 2:35pm – 10.00 pm
  • One Healthcare Woodside 12th November 2025, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
  • Woodside Primary School 10th November 2025, 8.30am – 4.00 pm
  • Dance Fusion, Hahndorf 10th November 2025, 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm
  • Dance Fusion, Hahndorf 9th November 2025, 2.30 pm – 7.00 pm
  • Bunnings Mount Barker 8th November 2025, 3.30 pm – 4.50 pm

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted via respiratory aerosols that remain a risk to others for up to 30 minutes after the person has left the area. The incubation period is about 10 days (range 7 to 18 days) to the onset of prodromal symptoms and about 14 days to rash appearance. The rash classically appears 4 days after prodrome onset. The illness is characterised by cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, a descending morbilliform rash, and fever present at the time of rash onset. The infectious period is from 24 hours prior to onset of the prodrome until 4 days after the onset of the rash.

Doctors should

  • Offer post exposure prophylaxis to non-immune contacts who have been at exposure sites listed above as per Measles CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units.
  • Notify urgently any patient with suspected measles to the CDCB on 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days). Do not wait for laboratory confirmation.
  • At the time of consultation, take a throat swab in viral transport media (preferred specimen) and urine in a yellow top container both for measles PCR; and measles serology and arrange urgent laboratory testing through SA Pathology. Do not send the patient to a laboratory collection centre.
  • Isolate suspected and confirmed measles cases and exclude from child-care/ school/ workplace for 4 days after rash appearance.
  • Minimise transmission of measles:
    • Examine patients suspected of having measles in their own homes wherever possible. Ensure the patient is only seen by practice staff with confirmed immunity to measles. Ensure suspected cases do not use the waiting room and use a room that can be left vacant for at least 30 minutes.
    • Wear a correctly fitted particulate filter respirator (i.e. P2/N95) and eye protection.
    • Treat all people who attend the rooms at the same time as and up to 30 minutes after the infectious patient has left the rooms as contacts.

Measles vaccination

  • Two doses of a measles containing vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles. Most people born in Australia before 1966 will have had measles in childhood and be immune (unless immunosuppressed). In Australia during the late 1960s to mid-1980s only one measles vaccine was routine, hence people born during this time may require an additional vaccine to be immune. See Australian Immunisation Handbook.
  • Offer measles vaccine (unless contraindicated) to all potentially susceptible persons who attend your practice.
  • South Australia now funds measles vaccine for adults born during or after 1966 who have not received two doses, and children aged 6 months to less than 12 months who are travelling overseas. See SA Health website.

For all enquires please contact the CDCB on 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days)
Dr Louise Flood – Medical Lead, Communicable Disease Control Branch