The number of measles cases linked to the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus has doubled in the past 10 days after cases were reported on Thursday and Friday.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

The latest case, the sixth, was reported after coming in contact with the first recent measles sufferer at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

The Darling Downs Public Health Unit has urged residents to be alert to symptoms of measles after a person confirmed to have the disease visited Toowoomba last weekend.

Darling Downs Public Health Unit Director Dr Penny Hutchinson said the person visited the Spotted Cow Hotel on the evening of Saturday 15 August.

She said management of the Spotted Cow had been advised of the case so they could let staff and patrons who were at the hotel last Saturday know.

Dr Hutchinson said there was the potential for subsequent cases to appear as a result of contact with the case last weekend. However, she emphasized there was no ongoing risk in attending the Spotted Cow.

Senior Medical Officer with Queensland Health’s Communicable Diseases Unit, Dr Heidi Carroll said the Metro North Public Health Unit had set up a vaccination clinic at UQ’s St Lucia Campus Thursday.

“We are encouraging students who live in UQ colleges who are unsure whether they have been vaccinated against measles to attend the clinic,” Dr Carroll said.

“People who were born on or after 1 January 1966 and have received one documented dose of a measles containing vaccine are recommended to receive another measles vaccination.

“People who may have come into contact with the patient who are uncertain of their immunity to measles should speak to their GP immediately.”

Measles is a very contagious virus that is spread from person-to-person by tiny droplets created during coughing and sneezing.

Related: How contagious is measles? Answer: Very