Newborn Contracts Measles on Bali Flight as Sydney Cases Surge
A Sydney family has described the terrifying ordeal of their newborn baby contracting measles on a flight home from Bali, as health authorities report a significant surge in cases across the city. Virgin Australia pilot Adam Mather, 42, along with his wife Tiffany and their two children, returned from a holiday on the popular Indonesian island on December 20, unaware that an infectious traveller had been on board their aircraft.
Family's Holiday Turns to Health Crisis
While Mr Mather, his wife, and their four-year-old son Tobie had been vaccinated against measles, their one-month-old baby Taylen had not yet received immunisation due to his age. 'He had a bit of a runny nose and I assumed it was just a standard cold because it had been a busy two weeks of travelling,' Mr Mather explained to the Daily Mail. 'Then we got a call from NSW Health informing us that someone on our flight had measles.'
The family, residing in northern Sydney, immediately sought medical testing at a hospital. 'Once we went to the hospital, that's when I started getting worried and stressed out and feeling a bit guilty for taking him overseas,' Mr Mather admitted. Over the following days, Taylen's condition deteriorated as they awaited results, which ultimately confirmed a positive diagnosis for measles.
Symptoms and Recovery Period
Taylen developed severe symptoms including a head-to-toe rash, a fever spiking between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius, and a loss of appetite. 'By that stage, he was pretty sick. He wasn't eating and lost some weight,' Mr Mather recounted. 'After four or five days of the fever, that's when the rash came on from top to bottom. I felt so bad for him, because there's nothing he could do about it. It wasn't his fault. His eyes were so red that he was constantly rubbing them.'
Fortunately, the rest of the family tested negative for measles and did not require hospitalisation during Taylen's three-week recovery period. Mr Mather emphasised the importance of vaccination, particularly with upcoming school holidays and increased overseas travel. 'I think it's important that your children are vaccinated, especially with the upcoming school holidays and people going overseas,' he urged.
Public Health Warning and Statistics
NSW Health has issued alerts for Sydney residents to remain vigilant for signs of measles, a highly contagious infection. Between January 1, 2025, and March 7, 2026, the state has recorded 60 measles cases, with 26 occurring this year alone. Recent cases include one patient who contracted measles locally and another with no known contact or exposure locations, suggesting community transmission.
Measles spreads through airborne transmission when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and merely sharing a room can lead to infection. NSW Health has listed at least 60 locations with specific dates and times where infectious individuals were present, advising visitors to monitor symptoms for 18 days and seek medical attention if any signs appear.
Vaccination and Travel Precautions
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, with free immunisation available for children aged 12 to 18 months and anyone born after 1965 who has not received two doses. Mr Mather highlighted the risks of travelling with unvaccinated children, noting that Taylen was under 12 months old and thus ineligible for vaccination. 'Obviously, in this case, Taylen was under 12 months, so he hadn't had his vaccines yet. That was the unfortunate thing,' he said. 'We kind of took a chance there, but unfortunately, he still caught it.'
Health authorities warn that travellers to regions with measles outbreaks are at heightened risk if not immune, underscoring the critical need for vaccination and awareness to curb the spread of this dangerous disease.
