Western Australians are being asked to be alert to the risk of measles following a confirmed measles illness in a person who visited multiple public venues last week.

Children and adults who have been inadvertently exposed are at risk of developing measles if they are not already immune. Individuals should remain vigilant for the onset of measles symptoms from tomorrow through the end of January if they are not immune to measles and attended any of the following:

In Perth:

Friday 11 January

Claremont Quarter shopping centre

Foxy Nails Bull Creek

In the Albany area:

Saturday 12 January

The Kalgan Stampede Rodeo

The Forts at Mt Clarence

Rustlers Steakhouse during dinnertime

Sunday 13 January

Emu Point Café at breakfast

Limeburners Distillery in the afternoon

Due South Tavern in the afternoon

The White Star Hotel during dinner

Monday 14 January

Passmore Cycles

BP Roadhouse in Williams

There is no current risk of acquiring measles from visiting one of these venues.

Senior Medical Advisor in Communicable Diseases, Professor Paul Effler said “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. It is generally considered safe for non-immune individuals to enter a room 30 minutes after a measles case has left the area.”

Persons born prior to 1966 are usually immune to measles because they 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, especially those residing in the Albany area, 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.

With high vaccination coverage, naturally occurring measles has been eliminated from WA for around 20 years, but occasional cases and small outbreaks occur, usually sparked by residents or visitors who were infected overseas.

Public health staff have provided information to people who were 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 is a serious and highly contagious viral illness spread by tiny droplets released when infected people cough and sneeze. 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,” Professor Effler said.

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 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,” he said.

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 022 222.

To learn more about measles, visit the HealthyWA website (external site).

ENDS

Media contact: (08) 9222 4333

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