QUICK SUMMARY
Cairns Hospital mandates mask-wearing in key wards following four new measles cases, raising the total to seven. Chief executive Leena Singh emphasized the need to protect vulnerable patients from the highly contagious virus. Public cooperation and vaccination remain essential to prevent further spread.
Cairns Hospital has mandated mask-wearing in several wards due to four new confirmed measles cases, raising the regional total to seven. Chief executive Leena Singh highlighted the hospital's responsibility to safeguard patients and staff from the highly contagious virus. Masks will be compulsory in the Intensive Care Unit, Special Care Nursery, Maternity Unit, Cancer Care Ward, and Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre for a limited time. Singh advised those exhibiting measles symptoms to seek medical care and avoid work. Public Health teams are actively tracing contacts linked to the outbreak, which is exacerbated by unvaccinated individuals. Dr. Jacqui Murdoch noted that measles spreads rapidly in close-contact environments like hospitals. Vaccination is emphasized as the strongest defense against the virus, and early detection is crucial. The hospital seeks public cooperation to mitigate further spread of measles in the community.