Measles warning issued in South Australia

A teen from South Australia acquired measles while traveling in Southeast Asia and then visited a number of locations in Golden Grove and Modbury while infectious, prompting a health warning today.

SA Health’s Acting Communicable Disease Control Branch Director, Dr Ann Koehler, said the 15-year-old girl is recovering at home.

“Measles is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunized, and can be contracted by other people up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left the area,” Dr Koehler said.

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“People with measles are infectious for several days before they develop symptoms, so anyone who was in the locations at the times listed should be aware of how measles presents.

“Measles begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which begins on the head and then spreads down the body. Complications of measles can be severe.”

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SA Health is advising anyone who isn’t fully immunized, and particularly those who were in the locations at the times listed below, to be alert for symptoms over the next few weeks and to see a doctor if they become ill.

The teenager visited the following locations while infectious:

Dan Murphy’s, cnr The Grove Way and The Golden Way, Golden Grove between 9.45am-11am on Friday 21 December

The Grove Shopping Centre, Lot 1037 The Golden Way, Golden Grove, between 10am-11am on Friday 21 December

Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, 976 North East Rd, Modbury, between 11am-2pm Friday 21 December

Bunnings Warehouse, 933-945 North East Rd, Modbury, between 1.15pm-2.15pm on Friday 21 December

Clovercrest Village, Cnr Montague Rd and Kelly Rd, Modbury, between 1.30pm-2.30pm on Friday 21 December.

“It is very important that people phone their doctor before any visit and mention why they are attending, so precautions can be taken to avoid spreading disease to others,” Dr Koehler said.

“Immunization provides the best protection against measles and it’s vital that everyone makes sure they’ve had two doses of the measles vaccine to protect themselves and the community.