West Australians are being warned about an increased risk of measles after another person was found to have contracted the virus while travelling overseas.
It is the second such case in a week, after a passenger on board a flight from Tokyo to Perth, via Singapore, was diagnosed with the infection several days ago.
The locations the second person visited are listed below but include the Bentley Maternity Unit.
The Health Department’s director of communicable diseases Paul Armstrong said in both cases, public health staff had been contacting potentially exposed individuals directly, but it was not possible to identify and specifically warn people who were in public places.
“Measles is contagious for about four days before and after the development of a rash,” Dr Armstrong said.
“Children and adults who have been unwittingly exposed are at risk of developing measles if they are not immune.
“A person is considered immune to measles if they have previously received two doses of a measles vaccine or were born before 1966.”
Dr Armstrong said anyone who developed a fever with other symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore eyes and a rash, within two weeks of potential exposure to someone with measles should stay home and consult their doctor.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral illness spread by tiny droplets released when people cough and sneeze.
Naturally occurring measles has been eliminated from WA for about 20 years.
Below is a Health Department provided list of the locations the second person diagnosed with measles visited in recent days.
- 21-28 October – Langford Islamic College, morning and afternoon drop off
- 21 October – Bentley Hospital Maternity Unit, 1.00pm to 2.00pm
- 22 October – The Learning Bee, Applecross, 10.30am to 12.00pm
- 23 October – Kien Strawberry farm, Gnangara, 11.30am to 1.30pm
- 23 October – McDonalds Restaurant Mirrabooka, 1.00pm to 2.30pm
- 23 October – Chemist Warehouse, Mirrabooka, 2pm to 3pm
- 25 October – Chemist Warehouse, Gosnells, 4.45pm to 5.30pm
- 25 October – Maddington Village General Practice, 4.30pm to 5.15pm
- 26 October – Gosnells Healthcare Centre General Practice, 7.00pm to 8.00pm
- 27 October – Cannington Leisureplex Aquatic Centre and Library, 9.30am to 10.30am
- 27 October – Clinipath Pathology collection centre, Albany Hwy Gosnells, 11.00am
- 27 October – Coles, Albany Hwy Gosnells, 12.00pm to 1.00pm
- 28 October – Toys R Us, Albany Hwy Cannington, 9.30am to 10.30am
- 28 October – Westfield Carousel shopping centre, Albany Hwy, 10.30am to 11.30am
- 28 October – Ar Rukun Mosque, Rockingham, 1.30pm to 2.00pm
- 28 October – Rockingham foreshore cafe and beach – 2.00pm to 3.30pm
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
Top Comments
Why everybody before 1966?
"No vaccination is required for persons born before 1966 (unless serological evidence indicates otherwise), as circulating virus and disease were prevalent before this time, suggesting most persons would have acquired immunity from natural infection. However, confirmed cases of measles have occurred in persons born before 19668 and, if doubt exists, it may be more expedient to offer vaccination than serological testing." from immunise(dot)health(dot)gov(dot)au
I think it would be better to say if you have had measles in the past then you don't need to be vaccinated, because there will be a small percentage of people who didn't get these childhood diseases. I am a little older but there was a number of childhood diseases that I didn't get, and which I had no idea there was now a vaccine for, I don't have kids so no doctor ever mentioned it. For instance I never had measles or chicken pox and I used to say to people (when I would hear of an outbreak) gee I had better be careful, yet no one ever mentioned to me that there were now vaccines for that, I just found a few years ago by chance, then I went to the doctor and asked for the vaccines.
By the way they run a test first to see if you have had those diseases (in case I was mistaken, though I was not) so that they don't give you the vaccines for no reason.
Thank you