<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/05/measles-alert-infections-australia>
"Health authorities across Australia are on high alert as measles cases rise
across the country, fuelled by summer international travel and a decline in
childhood vaccination rates.
Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
(NCIRS) has found that for the first time in 10 years, Australia’s early
childhood vaccination coverage has slipped below the critical 95% threshold
required for herd immunity.
Nationally, coverage for two-year-olds has dropped to 89.7%, while as of late
last year, the number of children receiving their first MMR (measles, mumps and
rubella) dose on schedule had fallen by 11.4 percentage points compared to
pre-pandemic levels.
In total, Australia recorded 168 measles cases in 2025 – a nearly threefold
increase from the 57 cases seen in 2024.
The decline in immunity has collided with a surge in measles infections from
holiday travel. On Sunday, health departments in New South Wales and South
Australia issued alerts after the national “Boxing Day cluster” grew to seven,
believed to have been caused by a single traveller who was infectious while
moving through several high-traffic public areas."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
