Confirmed case of measles in Townsville
Published: 11 September 2025
Queensland Health has been notified of a confirmed case of measles infection in a person who spent time in the following public places while unknowingly infectious.
The potential exposure areas include the Townsville area from 30th August to 11th September and the specific locations and times are:
• Townsville Strand Promenade walking path Saturday 30.08.25 5.30am - 6.50am
• Freelance Roasting, 1/58 The Strand, North Ward Saturday 30.08.25 6.50am -7.50am
• Little Sunshine & Co., 679 Flinders St, Townsville City Saturday 30.08.25 8.00am - 8.30am
• Gregory Street and The Strand Park 37-43 The Strand, North Ward Saturday 30.08.25 1.00pm - 2.30pm
• Cotters Markets, Flinders St, Townsville City Sunday 31.08.25 8.30am -10.00am including the following:
The Quarters, 334 Flinders St, Townsville City 31.08.25 8.45am-9.45am and Gecko Interiors, 280 Flinders St, Townsville City 31.08.25 9.50am-9.55am
• Chemist Warehouse, Sturt St, Townsville City Sunday 31.08.25 10am -10.05am
• Anderson Gardens, 41 Gulliver St, Mundingburra Sunday 31.08.25 10.30am -12.30pm
• Lighten Up Studio, 509 Flinders St, Townsville City Sunday 31.08.25 4.00pm -5.00pm
• Coles Supermarket, Castletown Shopping Centre, 35 Kings Rd, Pimlico Sunday 31.08.25 5.15pm - 5.25pm
• QML Pathology, Oxford Medical Suites, Ground Floor 16/18 Oxford St, Hyde Park Friday 05.09.25 8.30am - 9.30am and Monday 08.09.25 2.25pm - 2.30pm
Members of the public who visited the above areas on the specified dates and times may have been exposed to the disease and need to be alert for symptoms for up to three weeks from the exposure date.
Measles is a highly infectious virus that is spread by coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth. Symptoms usually start 7-10 days after contact with an infected person but can sometimes take as long as three weeks.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of measles can include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore red eyes. This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread over the body.
What you should do
If you have any measles symptoms, you can arrange testing with your doctor or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice.
If you think you may have measles, it is very important that you avoid public spaces.
Please contact your GP and pathology services before attending so they can take appropriate precautions to avoid spreading measles to others. When you call, state that you have been in contact with a measles case.
Vaccination
Vaccination is an important step towards reducing the risk associated with vaccine preventable diseases and keeping people safe.
People who have been vaccinated against or previously contracted measles are very unlikely to catch the disease even if they have been exposed.
Those who are at highest risk of contracting measles include people who:
• have a weakened immune system or,
• were born during or after 1966 and have no documented evidence of having received 2 doses of a measles containing vaccine or
• have not been infected with measles before
Measles-containing vaccine is recommended for children as part of the National Immunisation Program at 12 months of age as MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, and at 18 months of age as MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine.
Queensland has an extended Immunisation Program for:
• Children aged 6 months to less than 12 months who are travelling to a country where measles is endemic, or where outbreaks are occurring, both overseas and in Australia.
• People born during or since 1966 to have two funded doses of measles containing vaccine
If you are unsure of your vaccine status, contact your doctor to discuss whether you may need a vaccine.
The MMR vaccine is free and available at GPs and participating community pharmacies.
For more information about measles, call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or go to the Queensland Health website.
For information on measles alerts outside of Queensland please refer to individual state and territory websites.
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our health facilities have been built and on which we meet today.
We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge.