A third confirmed measles case has been reported in Melbourne this March, according to a health alert issued by Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer, Victoria, Dr Finn Romanes Monday.

Image/OpenClipartVectors
Image/OpenClipartVectors

The most recent case was infectious on Saturday 10 March at a number of locations: Qantas flight QF44 from Denpasar to Sydney arriving at 06.25am on that day, Qantas flight QF 415 from Sydney to Melbourne, arriving at 10.35am, Tullamarine Airport until midday and Lentil as Anything restaurant at Abbotsford Convent from 2pm until 3pm.

Health officials say the three cases were likely acquired overseas and are unrelated.

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The cases attended a number of locations in and around Melbourne whilst infectious including:

  • Saturday 3 March – Flinders Backpackers (Elizabeth Street, Melbourne), Flinders Street Railway Station, tram routes 16 and 96 to and from St. Kilda beach, St Kilda beach
  • Sunday 4 March – Flinders Backpackers, Coles Central (Flinders and Elizabeth St), McDonalds (Elizabeth St)
  • Monday 5 March – Flinders Backpackers, Phillip Island: Nobbies Visitor Centre Café
  • Tuesday 6 March – Flinders Backpackers, Westpac bank (Elizabeth Street), Medicare office (Galleria Shopping Centre, Bourke Street)
  • Wednesday 7 March – Flinders Backpackers, multiple sites along the Great Ocean Road between Geelong and Warrnambool
  • Wednesday 7 March – AirAsia flight D7214 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne and at Tullamarine Airport from 9.30am until midday
  • Saturday 10 March – Qantas flight QF44 from Denpasar to Sydney arriving at 06.25am, Qantas flight QF 415 from Sydney to Melbourne, arriving at 10.35am, Tullamarine Airport until midday and Lentil as Anything restaurant at Abbotsford Convent from 2pm until 3pm.

As measles is highly infectious through airborne transmission, other secondary cases may occur in susceptible people. Measles has an incubation period of between seven and 18 days (average 14 days from exposure to rash) so should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any susceptible person who presents with a compatible illness, with an onset date between 10 March and 28 March 2018.