South Australians are being reminded to check their vaccination status for measles after another measles case was confirmed today.

Image/Jim Goodson, M.P.H.
Image/Jim Goodson, M.P.H.

SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips has said that a 1 year old boy is in a stable condition at home after contracting the disease in Indonesia.

“Immunization provides the best protection against measles and it’s vital that everyone makes sure they’ve had two doses of the measles vaccine not only to protect themselves but to protect the wider community.

“Measles is highly contagious and can be airborne, so it is easily spread, through coughing and sneezing, amongst people who are not immunized.

“People should look out for the symptoms that include fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which begins on the head and then spreads down the body.”

SA Health is urging anyone who isn’t fully immunized or who was in the locations at the times listed to be alert for symptoms over the next few weeks and to see a doctor if they become ill.

Professor Phillips said it is imperative that anyone who believes they have the symptoms of measles to contact their doctor prior to visiting.

“If people believe they have the symptoms of measles they should phone their GP ahead of their visit and mention why they are attending so that precautions can be taken to avoid spreading disease to others,” Professor Phillips said.

“People born in the late 1960s to mid-1980s may believe they are fully immunized but many only received one measles vaccine and therefore they can still be at risk, so they are advised to visit a GP or local council immunization clinic to obtain the full measles (MMR) vaccine.

“Children should receive their first measles vaccination at 12 months and the second at 18 months of age.

“It is also important to note that the infectious period begins prior to the symptoms being present and therefore any person infected with measles will not be aware that they are carrying the disease.”

Today’s cases take the total number of confirmed cases in South Australia this year to 11, compared to four cases for all of 2015.

Locations

  • Jetstar flight JQ128 from Bali with a scheduled arrival in Adelaide of 6:05 a.m. on Sunday 13 November.
  • Adelaide Airport from 6:05 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. on Sunday 13 November.
  • Partridge Street General Practice, 16 Partridge St, Glenelg from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Monday 14 November, 12:00 p.m. until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday 16 November, and 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday 17 November.
  • The Reject Shop, 98 Jetty Road from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Monday 14
    November.
  • Chemist Warehouse, 88 Jetty Road from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Monday 14 November.
  • Cheap as Chips, 152 Jetty Road from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Monday 14
    November.
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. on Thursday 17 November.
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Main Entrance, from 1:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday 17 November.