The measles outbreak is a growing concern for health experts in Australia, with a significant rise in cases reported this year. But here's where it gets controversial: while international travel and vaccine hesitancy are contributing factors, the extreme contagiousness of the disease is a major issue. 'It spreads like wildfire', according to Dr Tim Jones, and up to nine out of 10 people without immunity will become infected after exposure. 'It's orders of magnitude more contagious than COVID was', he added. The situation is made worse by the fact that measles can spread through air conditioning systems, and people in other rooms on the same circuit can be infected. This is a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination and the need to address vaccine hesitancy. 'It's getting harder to convince people to make the right decision and get the vaccine', said one expert. The good news is that measles was declared eliminated in Australia in 2014, thanks to the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, recent years have seen a decline in vaccination rates, particularly among children, and the nation's vaccination rate has dropped below the target of 95 per cent needed to reach herd immunity. This has led to a tripling of measles cases in Australia over the last year, and experts are concerned about the potential for further outbreaks. So, what should we do about it? The key is to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure that vaccination rates remain high. This means providing accurate information and addressing any misconceptions about the vaccine. It also means ensuring that people have access to the vaccine and are aware of the risks associated with the disease. By doing so, we can help to protect ourselves and our communities from the spread of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
