Fortescue-operated Christmas Creek Mine in Pilbara declared measles exposure site

Fly-in, fly-out workers have been urged to check the status of their measles jab after three cases were linked to a Pilbara mine site.

WA Health released the public health warning on Thursday after the latest cases reported to the department this week related to a Qantas flight from Christmas Creek Mine to Perth.

The flight departed the mine site just before midday last Thursday and arrived in Perth just after 1.30pm with an infectious passenger aboard.

The person then spent several hours at the Virgin Australia lounge in Terminal 1 at Perth Airport.

The Fortescue-operated Christmas Creek Mine, about 145km north of Newman, was on Friday declared an exposure site over several days, from September 8-11 inclusive.

Communicable Disease Control Directorate acting director Jelena Maticevic urged all FIFO workers, or anyone travelling to regional mine sites, to check that their vaccination status was up to date.

“I encourage anyone aged between 30 and 60 years, whether travelling to regional WA for work or overseas for a holiday, to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles,” she said.

“See your doctor or pharmacist for a free measles vaccine — if you are unsure whether you were fully vaccinated with two doses in the past and don’t have access to your vaccination record, now is a good time to get another dose.”

Fortescue said the company was aware of confirmed measles cases in the community linked to its Christmas Creek operation.

“We understand there are broader links being investigated, including overseas travel,” a spokeswoman said.

“Fortescue has comprehensive health management systems across all our operations, which are regularly tested and reviewed to ensure their effectiveness.”

The spokeswoman said Fortescue had “well-established protocols” for managing infectious disease risk and its on-site medical teams were “equipped to support early detection, isolation and response measures”.

“The health and wellbeing of our team members is a core value at Fortescue,” she said.

“We are providing regular communications and support to our people to ensure they have the information and assistance they need.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in regular contact with the department. There has been no impact to our operations or production.”

It follows reports of another FIFO worker boarding a flight while infectious from Perth to Christmas Creek Mine on August 26, understood to be a returned overseas traveller from Bali.

It prompted a warning from health authorities for families travelling overseas during the school holidays to make sure everyone’s immunisations were up to date.

The latest reports take WA’s measles caseload to 36 for the year — six times the number of cases recorded in 2024.

It is the State’s worst outbreak of the highly infectious virus in more than five years, with the last major outbreak in 2019 when there were 52 cases.

The highly transmissible virus can cause serious illness, particularly in infants. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, runny nose, red eyes and a cough.

Early symptoms are usually followed by a red, non-itchy rash beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.

The Health Department has issued 17 alerts this year about measles outbreaks, encouraging people to check their immunisation records.

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