A 102-year-old church which was being used as a kindergarten has been decimated after a fire ripped through the heritage building early this morning.

Fire investigators say the cause of the fire was an electrical fault.

The fire began on Punt Road in South Yarra just before 6.25am and led to homes being evacuated and hundreds of residents being warned to stay inside before it was brought under control about 8am.

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About 60 firefighters were on scene, while a Watch and Act message was issued for people living in the nearby areas of Albert Park, Cremorne, Melbourne, Prahran, Richmond, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Windsor.

Firefighters were confronted with "a really big fire" when they arrived on scene, with the back of the church completely alight, according to Fire Rescue Victoria commander Mitch Simons.

"It was a really intense fire," he said.

"Flames were leaping up into the air quite high."

He said the rear end of the church had been extensively damaged, while the front section had mostly been saved.

It is believed the fire began in the church and spread to Christ Church Grammar School early learning centre, which has been destroyed by the blaze.

School principal Neil Andary said the building had only recently been renovated.

Andary said it was a terrible outcome for the whole community.

"Situations like this are always sad for any community," he said.

"There is a grieving process now."

The nearby South Yarra Primary School is believed to have been protected from the fire.

Simons said two minor injuries were sustained as the fire was contained, with a firefighter suffering a hand injury from a burst hose and another facing heat stress.

Anyone within a one-kilometre radius of the fire, which involves a very built-up residential and commercial area, was warned that embers were being emitted from the fire.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Punt Road, South Yarra is closed in both directions between Toorak Road and Commercial Road due to a nearby building fire.

Motorists are being advised to use St Kilda Road or Chapel Street instead.

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An eye disease caused by the most common parasite in the world is under the microscope as researchers warn cases could be on the rise.

New research from Flinders University has revealed one in 149 Australians are impacted by the illness caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which was discovered more than 100 years ago.

Part of the reason for this increase could be attributed to people eating raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. The parasite is also commonly associated with cats.

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"Studies around the world show that 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the global population is infected with toxoplasma but despite knowing that, what we didn't know was how common the related eye disease was," said Flinders University study author Professor Justine Smith.

The eye's retina — the part of the eye which generates vision — is most vulnerable to the disease, according to Smith.

"While there is no cure or vaccine, the symptoms of toxoplasmosis vary depending on the age, health and genetics of the infected individual," she said.

"Many people are asymptomatic, but the most common disease that we see in the clinic is retinal inflammation and scarring known as ocular toxoplasmosis."

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The study conducted in WA was the first effort to uncover the rate of ocular toxoplasmosis in Australia, by assessing the retinas of more than 5000 people.

The parasite is most commonly associated with cats but many other animals are infected via soiled environments, including areas where Australian cows are.

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"Considering Australia's substantial population of feral cats that are known to be infected, alongside high levels of farming and diets rich in meat, it's imperative we understand the prevalence of the disease across the country," said Smith.

Finders University researchers have raised the alarm and are urging people to understand the risks of consuming raw meat.

"We need people to be aware this disease exists, so they can make informed decisions about how they prepare and eat their meet," Smith said.

"The parasite can be killed easily by cooking the meat to an internal temperature of 66 degrees celsius or by freezing it prior to cooking."

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Ukrainian and Russian forces have continued fighting for control of Snake Island in the Black Sea as the Kremlin attempts to send reinforcements there.

Snake Island, or Zmiinyi Island, is only about a square kilometre in size, but holds great strategic value.

The heroics of outgunned Ukrainian defenders on the island at the start of the war grabbed world headlines when they defied a Russian warship's demand to surrender.

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The past few days have seen fighting intensify for control of the island, western experts said.

"If Russia consolidates its position on Zmiinyi Island with strategic air defence and coastal defence cruise missiles, they could dominate the north-western Black Sea," the UK Ministry of Defence tweeted on Wednesday.

Following the loss of the Russian warship Moskva last month and the Russian Navy pulling back to Crimea, its resupply vessels have minimum protection from Ukrainian attacks, the ministry said.

It also said Ukrainian troops had "successfully struck Russian air defences and resupply vessels with Bayraktar drones", produced by Turkey.

The incident was supported by a satellite image taken over Snake Island by Planet Labs PBC, showing thick black smoke rising from it last Friday.

If Russian troops on Snake Island install long-range air-defence systems, they will control the sea, land and air in the north-west part of the Black Sea and in the south of Ukraine.

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Island a symbol of resistance

When the war started on February 24, the Ukrainian defenders of Snake Island were urged to surrender by the Russian missile cruiser Moskva or face bombardment.

According to a purported audio exchange, one of the Ukrainian troops responded with: "Russian warship, go f— yourself".

After reports all the soldiers had been killed by the Russians, the Ukrainian military said they had survived and only surrendered after running out of ammunition.

In April, the Moskva – the Russian Navy's Black Sea flagship – was sunk by a Ukrainian missile.

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Neighbours worried by Black Sea conflict

The fighting on Snake Island has neighbouring countries worried, notably NATO member Romania which is only about 60km away.

This week, US special forces and other NATO troops have been holding military drills in the Black Sea amid concern of the Ukraine conflict widening.

They are part of the Trojan Footprint exercise, which involves 30 nations and more than 3300 special and conventional forces.

– Reported with CNN