17August 2011
The NT Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a community alert for measles following the diagnosis of a recent case in Alice Springs.
Measles is a very contagious viral illness that can cause serious disease. It is spread by coughing and sneezing. The early symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes. A red blotchy rash follows about two to four days later.
The person travelled on the 11:25 Qantas flight QF1949 on 8 August from Cairns to Alice Springs and stayed at the Alice Springs YHA Hostel on Monday 8 August and again on Thursday 11 August. The case visited Alice Springs Hospital between 8 August and 11 August.
Anyone who was infected by this patient would be expected to develop symptoms between 15 and 27 August.
"Anyone who may have been exposed and is concerned about having a fever and a cough, with or without a rash, should contact their GP or the Centre for Disease Control", CDC Director Dr Vicki Krause said.
The CDC in Alice Springs is contactable on (08) 8951 7540. After hours phone (08) 8951 7777 and ask for the on-call CDC doctor.
People who are considering visiting a healthcare facility with symptoms suggestive of measles should phone in advance so arrangements can be made to prevent the spread of the virus to other people.
"Measles is one of the most infectious of all communicable diseases and people who are not immune can easily catch it in public places," Dr Krause said.
"If you are not immune and you have been in contact with the case then you are at risk of measles. To be immune to measles you need to have had measles in the past or had two doses of a measles containing vaccine (measles vaccine, measles-mumps (MM) vaccine or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine)."
People who are not immune are urged to protect themselves against measles by vaccination. This is a free vaccine available from your community health centre (in the NT) and most GPs.
More information at: http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Centre_for_Disease_Control/Publications/CDC_Factsheets/index.aspx
Media inquiries: Robin Osborne, Media Director - 0488 692 781
