Pilbara measles cluster grows as AUS, US and Canada report outbreaks

Health authorities in Australia, the United States and Canada are confronting renewed measles activity, with an expanding cluster in Western Australia’s Pilbara region that has reached eight confirmed cases and widespread warnings about exposure sites, public health officials said on Thursday. The Pilbara cluster, centred on South Hedland and Karratha, has prompted multiple public health alerts, continued testing at regional clinics and advice that further cases are likely while contact tracers work to identify the infection source.

WA Health added new exposure timeframes at Hedland Health Campus and several community locations between September 20 and October 6, and said testing remains available at Hedland and Karratha health campuses, Roebourne Hospital, Onslow Health Service and Newman Health Service. Several cases in the Pilbara have no known source, indicating undetected transmission in the community that officials said was likely introduced by overseas travel. Communicable Disease Control Directorate director Paul Armstrong urged symptomatic people to seek testing and to isolate while awaiting results, saying, "They should isolate until they receive a result."