UPDATE, TUESDAY 5.04pm: THE number of measles cases in Victoria has increased again, with a seventh new diagnosis confirmed.
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The seventh patient is not believed to be based in regional Victoria.
Additional locations have been added to the list of places people with measles have visited while infectious.
They include:
- March 16 – Cardinia Life Leisure Centre, Pakenham, from 9.30 - 11pm
- March 17 – Collins Quarter, Collins St, Melbourne, 5.30pm - midnight
- March 18 – Melbourne Airport Tullamarine International Departures 7.30pm – 1.30am March 19
- March 19 – Woolworths Westfield Plenty Valley (3pm); Collins Quarter, Collins St, Melbourne, from 3pm – 7pm
- March 20 – Woolworths Lakeside Square Pakenham 3pm – 4pm
- March 24 – Waterside Bar, Flinders St, Melbourne, 10pm – 12am
The Department of Health and Human Services said none of the sites needed to be avoided as they did not pose an ongoing risk to visitors.
People susceptible to infection who attended the listed sites during the dates and times specified by the department should be on the lookout for measles until up to 18 days after their exposure.
UPDATE, TUESDAY 2.51pm: One of the six patients newly diagnosed with measles is from Echuca.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed as much after three Echuca locations featured in an advisory message released yesterday.
No further information has been provided.
People susceptible to infection who attended the listed sites during the dates and times specified by the department should be on the lookout for measles until up to 18 days after their exposure.
The department said none of the locations listed presented an ongoing risk of measles transmission and did not need to be avoided.
EARLIER: A SCHOOL, a pharmacy and a supermarket in Echuca feature among the list of locations six people newly diagnosed with measles visited in recent weeks.
The number of people infected with measles has risen once more after an Australian man aged in his 40s fell ill on an AirAsia flight from Melbourne to Malaysia earlier this month.
Five adults, ranging from 20 to 60 years of age, and a baby too young to be immunised are among the new cases.
All six people were in the international baggage collection area at Melbourne Airport between 9.30am and midday on March 7.
Victoria’s deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Brett Sutton, said none of the new cases were on the same flight as the index case – AirAsia D7214 from Kuala Lumpur, which landed in Melbourne about 9.30am that day.
“We believe they fell ill because they were in the baggage area at the same time as the index case,” Dr Sutton said.
Amcal Pharmacy Echuca featured in the list of locations visited by the newly diagnosed cases. The visit occurred on March 19 sometime from 1.30pm – 2.30pm.
A person infected with measles is believed to have attended ‘Discovery night’ at Echuca College on March 21 between 6pm – 7.30pm.
Woolworths Echuca also received a visit from 1pm – 2.30pm on March 22.
Other locations visited in the past two weeks included:
- Woolworths Kew, between 12pm – 2.30pm on March 14;
- Danny’s Coin Laundry on High Street, Thornbury, from 7pm - 8.30pm and Tahini Restaurant on High Street, Northcote, from 8pm – 9.30pm on March 18;
- La Trobe University Bundoora campus from 12pm – 2pm on March 19;
- Chemist Warehouse at Plenty Road, Bundoora, from 4pm –5pm and Pharmasafe Chemist at Plenty Road, Watsonia, from 4pm – 5pm on March 20;
- IGA Watsonia, on Watsonia Road, from 2pm – 3pm on March 21.
The Department of Health and Human Services said none of the locations listed presented an ongoing risk of measles transmission and did not need to be avoided.
Dr Sutton said measles usually began with symptoms similar to a common cold such as a runny nose, red eyes and a cough, followed by fever and a rash.
“The characteristic measles rash usually begins three to seven days after the first symptoms, generally starting on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body,” he said.
“Anyone developing symptoms is advised to ring ahead to their general practitioner or hospital first and tell them that they may have measles so that appropriate steps can be taken to avoid contact with other patients.”
He said measles was a highly infectious viral disease that could cause serious illness, particularly in very young children and adults.
People can develop pneumonia and other serious complications from the disease, and often need to be hospitalised.
Widespread use of the measles vaccine has made the disease uncommon in Australia.
Dr Sutton said most cases of measles in Victoria were linked to international travel, with the disease more prevalent in many countries overseas.
Immunisation is the best protection against measles.
Dr Sutton said it was important to continue immunising children.
The measles vaccine is recommended on the National Immunisation Program at 12 months and again at 18 months.
Anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk of contracting measles.
The department said adults aged between 26 and 52 had lower immunisation coverage than younger adults and children and therefore most cases were in this age group.
Most people over the age of 52 will have been exposed to measles in childhood, and therefore will be protected.
“All adults born during or since 1966 who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccine should see their GP before travelling overseas, to check their records and get vaccinated,” Dr Sutton said.
“Measles vaccine is not just a childhood vaccine: it’s a travel vaccine.”
Click here for more information about measles.
