Contracting a case of measles and enduring the fever, cough, sore eyes and characteristic red rash was a common part of growing up before vaccination was introduced.
asserted
vaccination → contract → fever
The disease was so rampant in Australia that anyone born before the late 1960s is thought to be immune, as it's likely they've already had the disease as a child.
asserted
they → bear → child
Since then, Australia has eliminated the highly-contagious virus through a vaccination campaign and has held the status of an endemic measles-free country for more than a decade.
asserted
Australia → eliminate → decade
A recent outbreak in South Australia spreading within a school community has sparked concern from health authorities, but it's not the only uncommon disease that has recently spiked in cases.
asserted
that → spread → cases
Australia is also experiencing the largest diphtheria outbreak since records began, with the cases predominantly among Indigenous people in outer regional and remote areas across four states and territories.
asserted
records → experience → states
So what's happening and why?
asserted
what → happen → ?
Where are measles cases coming from?
asserted
cases → come → Where
The World Health Organisation declared Australia free of endemic measles in 2014, meaning there is no ongoing local transmission within the population, although cases can still be brought in from overseas.
asserted
cases → declare → population
South Australia's latest outbreak was sparked by the return of a traveller who contracted the disease overseas and had since spread it to three other students and an adult in their 40s, who was hospitalised, within the Brighton Secondary School community.
asserted
who → spark → community
Contract tracing is being undertaken after the adult spent more than 24 hours at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's emergency department.
asserted
adult → undertake → department
The outbreak takes SA's measles total so far this year to nine, the highest since 2016.
asserted
outbreak → take → 2016
According to SA's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, it was a "disappointing" development but not altogether surprising given anti-vaccination misinformation.
"
uncertain
it → accord → misinformation
I have seen our vaccination rates year on year since the [COVID-19] pandemic starting to drop …
asserted
rates → see → pandemic
I see what information is being provided in other forms other than the science," Professor Spurrier told the ABC.
asserted
Spurrier → see → ABC
"In my past practice when I was a junior registrar, I'd see little ones die from these infectious diseases and it's always been so wonderful when we'd get new vaccines.
asserted
we → see → vaccines
"
Why is measles coming back?
asserted
measles → come → ?
Adelaide University professor and epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said measles vaccine access was also a contributing factor to the sliding rates.
asserted
access → say → rates
"It's things like parents being very busy, trouble getting to see the GP, I think it's more things like that rather than people hesitating to get their children vaccinated," Professor Esterman said.
asserted
Esterman → get → that
He said cases of measles have also been surging overseas.
asserted
cases → say → measles
"Canada has now lost its measles-free status, the UK has lost its measles-free status, the USA is almost certainly going to be losing it shortly," he said.
asserted
he → lose → it
"I hope we don't lose ours, it's not likely at the moment, but it's something that we don't want to see."
asserted
we → hope → that
Professor Esterman said measles, diphtheria and even whooping cough, which saw a national spike in cases in 2024, are all examples of childhood diseases which are making a comeback due to declining childhood vaccinations.
asserted
which → say → vaccinations
"All of these various childhood diseases, they used to be absolute killers 80-100 years ago," he said.
"
asserted
he → use → diseases
Most families had large numbers of children because they knew so many would actually die during the first year.
asserted
many → have → year
"
What's happening with the diphtheria outbreak?
asserted
What → happen → outbreak
The latest surge of diphtheria infections — the largest outbreak in Australia since records began in 1991 — has now risen to more than 600 cases, 22 of which were in SA.
asserted
22 → begin → SA
The highly contagious bacterial infection, which affect the nose, throat, airways or the skin, is treated with antibiotics and vaccination is considered the primary line of defence against the disease.
asserted
vaccination → affect → disease
SA Health said cases have been plateauing in recent weeks as more than 4,500 vaccines have been delivered to communities in the far north and south-west.
asserted
vaccines → say → north
"Up in the APY Lands where we've had the majority of the cases, there has been really high vaccinations so we're extremely pleased with the community's response," Professor Spurrier said.
asserted
Spurrier → have → response
The Aporia
