Western Australians are being asked to be alert to the risk of measles following confirmed measles in a person who recently visited multiple venues in the Perth and Rockingham/Baldivis areas, and took a flight from Perth to Auckland on 15 September.
Children and adults who are not immune to measles and were present at any of the following places may have been inadvertently exposed to infection.
Baldivis
- Tuesday 10 September, Spudshed on Kerosene Lane, 11.30am – 1.00pm
West Perth
- Wednesday 11 September, Watertown Mall, Wellington Street West Perth, noon – 2pm
- Saturday 14 September, Dorrien Gardens Stadium, Lawley Street, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Cannington
- Wednesday 11 September, Carousel Mall, Albany Highway, 2pm – 4:30pm
Rockingham
- Thursday 12 September, The Good Guys store, Enterprise Way, 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Perth International Airport
- Sunday 15 September, check-in and departure waiting areas 4pm – 7:30 pm.
Air New Zealand flight NZ176
- Sunday 15 September, departing Perth for Auckland at 7:25pm.
Some people may already be showing symptoms; others should remain vigilant for the onset of measles symptoms for the next week.
There is no current risk of acquiring measles from visiting one of these venues because the potential exposure to measles occurred only on the dates and times specified.
Director of Communicable Diseases, Dr Paul Armstrong described measles as a serious and highly contagious viral illness spread by tiny droplets that were released when infected people coughed and sneezed.
“Every measles case is treated as a public health emergency because of the risk of local spread – including to those most vulnerable to infection, such as infants too young to be vaccinated, those with compromised immune systems and pregnant women who are not already immune through vaccination or previous infection,” Dr Armstrong said.
“With high vaccination coverage, naturally occurring measles has been eliminated from WA for around 20 years, but occasional cases and small outbreaks still occur – associated with tourists or WA residents who are infected overseas.”
Dr Armstrong said public health staff had been providing information to people who were potentially exposed to the most recent case, where they were known, but it was not possible to identify and specifically warn people who were in public places.
“Measles virus survives less than two hours in the air or on objects and surfaces and is inactivated rapidly in the presence of sunlight or heat,” Dr Armstrong said.
“It is generally considered safe for non-immune individuals to enter a room 30 minutes after a measles case has left the area.
“People with measles typically develop symptoms approximately 10 days after being exposed to the virus, but this can vary from 7 to 18 days. Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash three or four days later. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
“Anyone who has had a potential exposure to measles, and who develops a fever with these other symptoms should see a doctor. It is important for unwell people to call ahead of travelling to a clinic or Emergency Department so that they can be isolated from infecting other patients and staff when they arrive.”
Measles is contagious for about four days before and after the development of the rash. Children and adults who have been unwittingly exposed are at risk of developing measles if they are not immune.
Persons born prior to 1966 are usually immune to measles because they likely had the illness as a child. People born during or after 1966 are requested to check that they have had two documented doses of a measles vaccine at some stage in their life, especially if they plan to travel overseas. If they are not sure if they have had two doses of measles vaccine, they should see their doctor for a vaccination before going abroad.
Parents are urged to make sure their children receive their measles vaccinations on schedule. Measles vaccine is currently given to children at 12 and 18 months of age.
Complications following measles can be serious and include ear infections and pneumonia in about 10 per cent of cases. Around 30 per cent of cases require a hospital admission and about one person in every 1,000 will develop encephalitis, inflammation of the brain.
People who are concerned they may have measles and require medical advice after hours can contact Healthdirect on 1800
