Travellers blamed for Qld measles spike BRISBANE Sept 18 AAP - Health authorities are pleading for parents to vaccinate their children against measles as more travellers bring the potentially deadly disease into Queensland. There have already been 16 cases of measles in the state this year, despite the disease having been eradicated from Australia. Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young says tourists and those travelling to places in Southeast Asia and Europe are bringing measles into Queensland at an increasing rate. This will cause more outbreaks of measles to occur, unless the vaccination rate lifts from 90 per cent to around 95 per cent, she said. "Someone has to catch measles overseas come into Australia and they'll spread it because it is so contagious," she told reporters in Brisbane. Please parents, make sure your children have their two doses (of the vaccination). The majority of recent measles cases have been in the Ipswich area, west of Brisbane. Dr Young said most of those struck down by the disease were young people who had travelled overseas to places including the Philippines and Italy. "They've mainly been people in their 20s and 30s," she said. Unfortunately, there has been one young child, a 10-month-old baby who was too young to be vaccinated who caught it. So far, two of the 16 people affected have been hospitalised, however Dr Young said the consequences could be far worse. "Somewhere between two and six per cent of people who will get it in Australia will die," she said. Why risk it when there is a fantastic vaccine which is free, safe and is out there? The last major outbreak of measles in Queensland was in 2009 when 32 cases were recorded on the Sunshine Coast - an area with a lower vaccination rate. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccination has been available in Queensland since the late 1960s. Children are vaccinated at 12 months and 18 months of age. Those born since 1966 can also get the vaccination free of charge.