WA Health is urging Pilbara residents and travellers to the region to be alert for symptoms of measles following confirmed community transmission in the Hedland and Karratha areas.
Several measles cases have been identified with no known source, indicating there have been unidentified cases in the community.
This has likely been introduced from travellers returning from overseas.
These developments indicate there is an ongoing risk of measles in the community, and further cases are likely.
There have been 47 cases of measles identified in WA in 2025 year to date, of which eight cases have recently been identified in the Hedland and Karratha areas in the Pilbara. This is in addition to measles cases associated with the Newman area during August and September.
WA Health has updated its measles alert to include new exposure locations associated with recent cases.
Measles is highly contagious but preventable through vaccination.
Director of the Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Dr Paul Armstrong encouraged everyone in the Pilbara region to check their immunity and get vaccinated for measles.
"The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine program has been expanded in the Pilbara to help protect the community," he said.
Vaccinations will be available at no cost from community health clinics, GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and participating pharmacies. Visit the measles vaccine page
