Measles Case from Jakarta Sparks Public Health Warning in Australia
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- Australian health officials are investigating an imported measles case involving a traveler from Jakarta. The patient visited public venues in Perth before showing symptoms, triggering widespread alerts.
- A measles infection traced to a Jakarta-origin traveler has prompted health warnings in Perth. Authorities are monitoring several public locations and urging the public to stay alert for symptoms.
- After confirming a measles case imported from Indonesia, Australian health experts praised the country’s rapid response and transparency, while Indonesia is urged to tighten domestic monitoring.
Australia’s health authorities are on heightened alert after confirming a new measles case traced to a traveler arriving from Jakarta, Indonesia. The highly contagious disease has prompted a public warning in New South Wales (NSW) as officials work to prevent potential local transmission.
The Timeline of Discovery
According to the Government of Western Australia Department of Health, the patient departed Jakarta on the evening of Saturday, February 7, 2026, and landed at Perth Airport Terminal 1 shortly after midnight on Sunday, February 8, at around 12:40 a.m. The individual reportedly spent about an hour during immigration and baggage collection before leaving the terminal.
Later that same day, the patient attended a service at Oikos Church in Myaree between 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., followed by dinner at Chopsticks Viet Restaurant in Northbridge from approximately 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Shortly after these activities, the traveler began to show symptoms, which were later confirmed by laboratory tests as an active measles infection.
Monitoring of Public Sites
In response, WA Health launched an intensive monitoring operation across all public venues visited by the patient. Because measles can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a location, residents who were present at the same time are being urged to watch for symptoms until February 26, 2026.
Areas such as the church and restaurant are under particular scrutiny, given the extended close contact that might have occurred there. Health officials have reminded the public to seek medical advice if they develop early signs such as high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, typically followed by a red, blotchy rash a few days later.
Expert from Indonesia Weighs In
Responding to the incident, Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, former Director of Communicable Diseases at WHO Southeast Asia, said the traveler likely had a high risk of exposure to measles either while still in Indonesia or during transit at Perth Airport.
Professor Tjandra highlighted three important takeaways from the Australian authorities’ handling of the case. First, he praised their swift and detailed epidemiological tracing, calling it impressively thorough. Second, he commended their transparent communication to the public, including precise details of the patient’s movements down to the minute.
“These two aspects set a remarkable benchmark for epidemiological investigations,” he said in a written statement on Saturday (February 21, 2026).
The third point, he added, is the need for heightened domestic vigilance. As the infection originated from Jakarta, Professor Tjandra urged Indonesian health authorities to quickly trace the patient’s residence or workplace, verify immunization status, and monitor potential secondary transmission within the surrounding community.
Indonesianpost.com | Detik
