Chlamydia is one of several threats facing koalas, which are listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Antibiotics can harm the gut microbes koalas need to digest eucalypt leaves, and some strains have become resistant. A single-dose vaccine developed by University of the Sunshine Coast researchers was approved in September 2025. University of Queensland professor Keith Chappell has questioned its efficacy, saying a data error affected the results. The university has defended its research, and the regulator says the vaccine is only permitted to aid in reducing clinical signs of the disease.
A measles outbreak has spread rapidly across rural Pennsylvania, with more than 1,300 cases and at least six deaths, including two infants. Authorities say none of the victims was vaccinated, and about one in five cases has required hospital care. Low vaccination rates in Amish communities, whose close-knit lifestyle and wariness of government advice have helped the virus travel quickly, remain the main obstacle. Health officials in Chester and Lancaster counties say many cases may go unreported. Vaccination clinics have administered thousands of doses.
A personalised cancer vaccine has cut the risk of melanoma recurrence and death by 42 per cent, according to an Australian-led phase 3 trial. Melanoma Institute Australia medical director Georgina Long said the result was higher than she expected. The treatment combines a vaccine made from each patient's tumour with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab after surgery. The trial included 1,137 patients across 157 sites worldwide, including several in Australia. Regulatory review could take several years, and the treatment is not yet available.
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A woman in her 40s from regional South Australia is in a critical condition in hospital after contracting invasive meningococcal disease serogroup B. Health authorities have identified multiple close contacts, and three have been given clearance antibiotics. South Australia has recorded 21 meningococcal cases so far this year, up from 13 at the same point last year. The infection can become life-threatening within hours if untreated. SA Health urges anyone with symptoms to seek immediate medical attention. Free meningococcal B vaccines are available for infants and Year 10 students.
Dog owners in Perth are being urged to watch for signs of canine parvovirus, a potentially deadly virus detected in Balcatta and surrounding suburbs. Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital warned of the highly contagious virus on Facebook and introduced precautions for animals visiting the clinic. Vets are assessing dogs and testing them outside the hospital while wearing full personal protective equipment. Owners of dogs with lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea are asked to call the clinic before arriving. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Pennsylvania's health department has issued a health alert as measles cases during pregnancy, and congenital measles cases, keep rising. Congenital measles had not been seen in the state for decades. As of October 19, the state had reported 1,286 measles cases this year across 42 counties, with 247 hospitalised and six deaths. The first reported death in the current outbreak was a newborn boy who died shortly after birth. Pregnant people who are unvaccinated and have not had measles face serious risks, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
Australians not covered by the national program can now be charged up to $180 for a COVID-19 vaccination, with prices set by individual pharmacies. Since 1 October, the vaccine has been part of the routine National Immunisation Program, which still covers at-risk groups such as older Australians. SBS News found prices differing across chains, with one Chemmart outlet charging $120 and Chemist Warehouse stores charging $179.99. One pharmacy owner said the high wholesale price and short expiry date of stock could affect whether pharmacies stock the vaccine.
A new dengue fever vaccine, Qdenga, is now available in Australia. The vaccine protects against all four types of the mosquito-borne virus, which is common in popular travel destinations like Bali, Indonesia, Thailand and India. Over 1,900 dengue cases were reported in Australia in 2025, mostly in returned travellers. The vaccine is recommended for those who have had dengue before or expect prolonged exposure, costing around $300 for two doses. Avoiding mosquito bites remains important, with day-biting mosquitoes posing the highest risk.
The dengue vaccine Qdenga is now available in Australia, giving travellers another way to protect themselves against the mosquito-borne virus. Dengue causes fever, headache and body aches, and in some cases can be fatal. In a large study of children and teenagers, the vaccine prevented about 80 per cent of illness in the first year. It is given as two doses three months apart and costs around $300. It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems. Avoiding mosquito bites remains important whether or not people are vaccinated.
A vaccination program to protect the shy albatross from H5 bird flu has begun on Albatross Island, a remote island in Bass Strait. No positive cases have been detected so far. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment plans a three- to four-week pilot covering 100 nesting birds, each needing two doses. Trained staff capture the birds by hand, and an experienced wildlife vet oversees the work. Results will help decide whether a wider vaccination strategy could be used to protect the species.
Veterinarians are urging graziers in north Queensland to vaccinate their cattle as an unseasonal outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever, also known as three-day sickness, spreads. The virus has caused unusual deaths in cattle over 24 to 48 hours, with significant losses reported in Hughenden and Charters Towers. The outbreak is believed to have been spread by mosquitoes, and while there is no risk to humans, the severity of symptoms has raised concerns about a potential change in the virus.
A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has become the sixth person to die in a measles outbreak in the state. She died on Saturday, October 10, and had several underlying health conditions. The county coroner's office listed the primary cause of death as a probable acute cardiac event, possibly linked to measles complications. The five earlier deaths included two infants, an 18-year-old, a 20-year-old and a 40-year-old, all unvaccinated. As of October 9, the state had recorded 1,136 cases this year, with 218 people hospitalised. The outbreak now spans 41 of the state's 67 counties.
Three small Amish schools in New York State have been fined a combined $118,000 for allowing unvaccinated children to attend class. The state applies a fine of $2,000 for each unvaccinated student each day they attend. The Amish say their faith requires them to trust God rather than vaccines, and the case is now before the US Supreme Court. New York officials say the vaccine requirement is a public health necessity, not religious hostility. The state repealed its religious exemption from school vaccination rules in 2019.
A new measles case in Byron Shire has prompted health officials to warn visitors to the Byron Beachside Markets on 26 September to watch for symptoms. The infected person, who had contact with a previous case, attended the markets near Bay Street and Dening Park from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Health authorities advise anyone present to monitor for symptoms until 14 October, as measles can take up to 18 days to appear. Dr Valerie Delpech urges those with symptoms to seek medical attention and remind the community to ensure they are up to date with vaccinations.
A new measles case has prompted a health alert for Byron Beachside Markets. The Northern NSW Local Health District warned visitors on 26 September may have been exposed. The infected person attended the markets between 9.30am and 12.30pm near Main Beach, Bay Street and Dening Park. Health authorities say the location is no longer a risk, but urge anyone present to monitor for symptoms until 14 October. Symptoms include fever, sore eyes, a runny nose, a cough, and a rash appearing three to four days later. NSW has recorded 57 confirmed measles cases this year.
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Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases, the largest in the US since the disease was eliminated in 2000. Health officials reported 1,078 cases in 2026, with 1,066 linked to the current outbreak since April. There have been 207 hospitalisations and five deaths, all among unvaccinated individuals. Experts expect the US may lose its measles elimination status due to slipping vaccination rates.
