A new “curve ball” sub-variant of Coronavirus sweeping the globe has now become the dominant strain in Perth, the latest wastewater sampling data has revealed.

This increase in community transmission is linked to a new variant, JN.1 which is causing similar impacts internationally. During this time, it is especially important that those at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 are protected against catching COVID-19 – this includes people aged 65 and above, people with a disability or chronic medical condition and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The caution comes as an Adelaide grandmother pleads for people to take heed and check their vaccination status, after losing her only grandson to the illness when he was just four weeks old.

Cases jumped by 18 per cent to an estimated 9 million, and deaths to 136,000, mostly among children, the health agencies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

There were large or disruptive outbreaks in 37 countries last year, the majority in Africa, compared to 22 in 2021.

"The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we've seen in the past few years," CDC global immunisation division director John Vertefeuille said.