Thursday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Brisbane warned to be on ‘measles alert’.

People in Brisbane’s west have been warned of a potential measles outbreak after a university student returned from an overseas trip infected with the virus.

The Queensland Health Service has told the local population to be on alert for symptoms.

“Although this person didn’t get measles in Australia, he would still have been very infectious when he was out in the community between Wednesday and Saturday last week,” public health physician, Dr James Smith, told Brisbane Times.

“People who may have come into contact with the patient who are uncertain of their immunity to measles should speak to their GP.

“Measles is a very contagious virus that is spread from person-to-person by tiny droplets created during coughing and sneezing. The droplets can remain suspended in the air.”

Brisbane Times reports anyone who visited Brisbane’s domestic airport on Wednesday July 15, as well as passengers on Qantas flight QF524 from Sydney should be on alert.

Students at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus should also be on the look-out, as well as anyone who attended Indooroopilly shopping centre between July 16-17.

2. ABC stores to close in shift toward online.

ABC stores across the country will close as the public broadcaster succumbs to funding cuts and the pressures of online retail.

Today, ABC announced it would close its 50 stores and 78 retail divisions, and open an online store instead.

Up to 300 staff could find themselves out of a job upon the closure of the stores, which sell DVDs, books and audio material affiliated with the broadcaster.

3. Adorable hugging dogs win the hearts of Internet users.

Two homeless dogs have gained international attention after a photo of them ‘hugging’ was posted on social media.

The image of Kala”and Keira from the Angels Among Us Pet Rescue Centre in the United States was posted on Facebook, in the hope of finding the pair a home.

“I’m Kala. This is Keira. We’re so scared in here,” the Facebook post read.

“The people working in the shelters see how scared we are but just told each other that today is our deadline. We have to have someone rescue us or we’ll be next.

“If no one saves us, someone will take her away from me. I’ll see her as she goes down the hallway. She won’t come back and I’ll cry. They’ll come for me next and I won’t be as brave.”

According to Nine News, it took only two hours within posting the image for a man to offer to take the dogs.

However, while the cuddly couple are currently in foster care, Angels Among Us is still trying to get them adopted.

4. Private health insurer refuses to pay for women who die in childbirth.

Health insurance company Medibank is hoping it won’t have to pay for services provided to mothers who die in child birth.

The company is reportedly rallying support from private hospitals in Canberra, asking them to sign a contract that alleviates Medibank of financial responsibility for women who die while giving birth.

News Corp reports the families of pregnant women could be left with private hospital bills of up to $8,500.

The Australian Medical Association chief executive labelled the move “offensive”.

5. Elderly women are having sex more than you think.

Many believe that a woman’s sex drive often decreases with age — but a new study is set to challenge this theory.

According to the study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, six out of ten women over the age of 60 are still enjoying an active sex life.

Over 2,100 women aged 28 to 84 were surveyed in the study, and found that women in their 60s and 70s were as sexually satisfied as women half their age, Jezebel reports.

“People assume as women get older, they automatically become sexually inactive and sex is not as important to them, which isn’t necessarily the case,” the study author Dr Holly Thomas told Health Day.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au
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