In a follow-up on the measles situation in Melbourne, Australia, in a health alert issued by Deputy Chief Health Officer, Victoria, Dr Brett Sutton today he states there have been a further six cases of measles in Melbourne which are linked to a previously reported case who was infectious on flight D7214 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne and in Tullamarine airport on Wednesday March 7 from 9.30am until midday.

Image/OpenClipartVectors
Image/OpenClipartVectors

Anyone who was on the above flight, or in Tullamarine international airport during that time, and is not immune is at risk of contracting measles and may already be unwell.

There have previously been three confirmed cases of measles in Melbourne in March this year, with these infections likely to have been acquired overseas, in different locations.

The nine 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 QF415 from Sydney to Melbourne, arriving at 10.35am, Tullamarine Airport until midday and Lentil as Anything restaurant at Abbotsford Convent from 2pm until 3pm
  • Wednesday 14 March – Woolworths Kew from 12pm to 2.30pm
  • Sunday 18 March – Danny’s Coin Laundry, High Street Thornbury from 7pm until 8.30pm, Tahini Restaurant, High Street Northcote from 8pm until 9.30pm
  • Monday 19 March – La Trobe University, Bundoora campus from 12pm until 2pm, Amcal Pharmacy Echuca, from 1.30pm until 2.30pm
  • Monday 20 March – Chemist Warehouse, Plenty Road Bundoora, from 4pm until 5pm, Pharmasafe Chemist Plenty Road Watsonia, from 4pm until 5pm
  • Wednesday 21 March – Echuca College ‘Discovery night’ from 6pm to 7.30pm, IGA Watsonia, Watsonia Road, from 2pm until 3pm
  • Thursday 22 March – Woolworths Echuca from 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Further sites may be added as cases are confirmed. None of the sites above need to be avoided now as they do not pose an ongoing risk to visitors.

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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 29 March 2018.

Anyone who presents with signs and symptoms compatible with measles should be immediately notified to the Department on 1300 651 160 and tested. Do not wait for test results before notifying. There should be an especially high index of suspicion if the patient has attended any of the areas stated above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.

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