In a follow-up to a report last week, Western Australia Health is reporting a second confirmed measles case in a person who was infected during travel overseas.
The person visited numerous places in the Perth suburbs – and was infectious to others from Friday 21 October to Friday 28 October 2016.
The specific locations and dates/times, where people could have been exposed to measles are listed below:
- 21-28 October – Langford Islamic College, Langford, morning and afternoon drop off.
- 21 October – Bentley Hospital Maternity Unit, Bentley – 1pm-2pm.
- 22 October – The Learning Bee, Applecross – 10.30am to 12 midday
- 23 October – Kien Strawberry farm, Gnangara – 11.30am to 1.30pm
- 23 October – McDonalds Restaurant Mirabooka – 1pm 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, Maddington – 4.30pm to 5.15pm
- 26 October – Gosnells Healthcare Centre General Practice – 7pm to 8pm
- 27 October – Cannington Leisureplex Aquatic Centre and Library – 9.30am to 10.30am
- 27 October – Clinipath Pathology collection centre, Albany Hwy, Gosnells – 11am
- 27 October – Coles, Albany Hwy, Gosnells – 12 midday to 1pm
- 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 2pm
- 28 October – Rockingham foreshore café and beach – 2pm to 3.30pm
WA Health Director of Communicable Diseases Dr Paul Armstrong said, in both cases, public health staff had been contacting potentially exposed individuals directly where they were known, 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 the rash. Children and adults who have been unwittingly exposed are at risk of developing measles if they are not immune,” Dr Armstrong said.
“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 individuals who developed a fever with other symptoms – including cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and a rash – within two to three weeks of potential exposure to someone with measles, should stay at home and consult their doctor.
“Anyone who thinks they are infected should call ahead and mention their possible contact with measles so they can be isolated when they arrive at the GP surgery or Emergency Department, to prevent infecting other patients and staff,” Dr Armstrong said.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral illness spread by tiny droplets released when infected people cough and sneeze.
Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash about three days later. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles infections can be especially severe in infants and people with poor immune systems.
Naturally occurring measles has been eliminated from WA for about 20 years but occasional cases and small outbreaks occur, which are associated with tourists or WA residents who are infected overseas.
People born during or after 1966 should make sure they have had two doses of a measles vaccine at some stage in their life, especially before travelling overseas. If they are not sure if they have been vaccinated in the past, it does not hurt to have another dose.
Complications following measles can be serious and include ear infections and pneumonia in about 10 per cent of cases. Around 40 per cent of cases require hospitalisation and about one person in every 1,000 will develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
