WA Health issues measles warning after confirmed case in returned traveller

Health authorities have issued a public health alert after a measles case was confirmed in a returned traveller from Afghanistan.

The infected person visited several stores at a northern suburbs shopping centre on Friday after being infectious on an international flight arriving in Perth last Thursday.

WA Health has listed several exposure sites online, including flight EK420 from Dubai to Perth, which arrived at Terminal 1 at Perth Airport last Thursday at 5.15pm. The person was then in the terminal for about an hour.

Anyone at the affected locations should stay alert for symptoms, which can take between seven and 18 days to manifest.

Communicable Disease Control director Paul Armstrong said measles is highly infectious and can result in serious complications.

“Measles can spread quickly and even one case of measles can be cause for concern,” Dr Armstrong said.

“This is why it is so important for people to pay close attention to the exposure locations, and if symptoms are identified, call ahead to your GP clinic before attending.”

The contagious virus can spread via airborne droplets to people close by, such as in waiting rooms, and droplets in the air may still infect people entering a room up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left.

Early symptoms of measles include fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes. It’s usually followed by a florid red non-itchy rash three or four days later, starting on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.

The returned traveller is currently being treated at a metropolitan hospital. It brings WA’s measles caseload to 20 for the year.

Last week, WA Health advised a person travelling to Brisbane via Perth had been infected with measles while in transit. The case, diagnosed in Queensland, does not count towards WA’s caseload for the year.

Measles outbreaks are occurring overseas in several countries, including Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. There are currently more than 50,000 suspected cases of measles in Afghanistan.

Dr Armstrong urged community members to check their vaccination status and consider getting their immunisations if not already inoculated against measles.

“Vaccination is the best way to protect against measles, and this is a reminder for the public to check they are immune and get vaccinated,” he said.

Anyone concerned they or a loved one may have measles should seek medical care or contact healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Affected people should call ahead to a GP or emergency department to discuss their situation to prevent spreading the infection.

Exposure locations:

• Friday 13/06/2025, 9:45am to 10:40am, Woolworths, 3 Gunter Grove, Beldon WA 6027
• Friday 13/06/2025, 9:30am to 10:15am, Coles, Belridge Shopping Centre, Ocean Reef Road, Beldon WA 6027
• Friday 13/06/2025, 9:00am to 10:00am, Greenleaf Pharmacy, Belridge Shopping Centre, Ocean Reef Road, Beldon WA 6027
• Friday 13/06/2025, 9:00am to 10:20am, Belridge Shopping Centre, Ocean Reef Road, Beldon WA 6027
• Thursday 12/06/2025, 5:15pm to 6:15pm, Perth Airport, Terminal 1, 1 Horrie Miller Dr, Perth Airport WA 610
• Thursday 12/06/2025, arriving 5:15pm, flight EK420, Dubai to Perth.