A measles alert has been issued for the Bendigo and Heathcote area by Victoria's Chief Health Officer.
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A man from the Bendigo region in his 40s is being treated and is recovering at Bendigo Health after acquiring the virus in a South East Asian country.
He is in a stable condition.
The man may have been infectious while attending multiple public areas in the Bendigo region between Tuesday April 23 and Saturday April 27.
Anybody in the following areas should be alert for the signs of measles:
- Tuesday 23 April 7am - 5.30pm St. Andrews Avenue, Bendigo CBD
- Wednesday 24 April 10am - 10.30 am Strathfieldsaye Primary Health
- Wednesday 24 April 11.30am - 12.30pm Axedale Tavern
- Wednesday 24 April 12.15pm - 1.15pm Toolleen Hotel
- Wednesday 24 April 12.45pm - 2.20pm High Street, Heathcote
- Wednesday 24 April - Late afternoon IGA Heathcote
- Saturday 27 April - Morning Heathcote Pharmacy
- Saturday 27 April - Morning BP Heathcote
Measles is highly infectious and can persist in the environment for up to two hours.
"Anyone who is unvaccinated is at highest risk of contracting measles. People need to have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine to be fully protected. Many adults have only received one vaccine against measles and therefore most cases are in this age group," Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Angie Bone said.
"Most people born before 1966 will have been exposed to measles in childhood, and therefore will be protected."
"This means if you are an adult born in or after 1966 - especially if you are planning travel overseas - you may be susceptible and should contact your GP to get vaccinated - and a free Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine is available."
"There is a lot of measles circulating in our region currently, including much of South East and Southern Asia. All travellers need to be aware of this risk."
The virus is highly infectious and symptoms include fever, a severe cough, conjunctivitis and coryza, followed by a rash starting on the face 7-18 days after being exposed.
Measles patients can be infectious roughly five days before and four days after the rash appears.
Anybody with symptoms should contact their GP, calling ahead with symptoms rather than turning up at the surgery to prevent spread of the virus.
Free measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is now available from GPs and some pharmacies for all eligible adults born during or since 1966.
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