Friday 09 July 2010
Territorians are being asked to be alert for measles following confirmation of a case of the highly contagious disease in a Darwin man this week.
The young adult became unwell several days after returning to Australia from the World Cup in South Africa and has been admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital with measles.
The patient attended the Palmerston CMAX Cinema on the evening of Friday 2July and there is a risk that other cinemagoers may have been exposed at that time. If so, they would be at risk of contracting measles if they did not have immunity to the disease.
The patient also attended two different GP surgeries on Monday and Tuesday, 5 and 6 July, and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is in the process of contacting people who attended these surgeries to provide exposure information and offer preventive treatment or booster immunisation as appropriate.
CDC Director Dr Vicki Krause said, "To be immune to measles you need to have had measles previously or have had two doses of the measles-containing vaccine, known as the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The vaccine is given as part of the routine national vaccination schedule at 12 months and at four years."
"It is reassuring that we generally have a well-vaccinated population, however this is a timely reminder for all people to review their immunisation status and attend their local community care centre or their GP for immunisation if required."
Some people, particularly in the 18-30 years age group, may not have received two MMR vaccines due to changes in the national vaccination schedule. People are not considered immune to measles unless they have had two doses of MMR vaccine.
Measles is a very contagious viral illness that is spread between people through coughing and sneezing. The symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, which usually occur 7-10 days after exposure to a case, followed by a red blotchy rash 3-4 days later.
Up to one-third of people infected with measles will experience a complication. Complications are more common in young children and adults and include ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and may require hospitalisation.
If you have symptoms of measles and intend to visit a healthcare facility it is important to phone in advance so that arrangements for infection control can be made to prevent the spread of the virus to other people.
"Once measles is introduced into a community it has the potential to spread through those who are not immune and may be passed on over several transmission cycles. We therefore ask that the community check their immune status now and get immunised if required.
"Measles is a vaccine-preventable illness so make sure you are not at risk - ensure you are immune by having two MMR vaccinations," Dr Krause added.
More information about measles is available online at:
http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Centre_for_Disease_Control/Publications/CDC_Factsheets/index.aspx
CDC contact details: Business hours: (08) 8922 8044
After hours: (08) 8922 8888 and ask for the on-call CDC doctor.
Media contact: DHF Media Director, Robin Osborne, 0488 692 781
