Victoria Health Department has issued an urgent warning after three travellers tested positive for measles.
The Victoria Health Department has issued an urgent health alert after three travellers returning from Singapore tested positive for measles. In particular, people who passed through or visited Melbourne Airport over the past weekend have been advised to look out for symptoms.
The reported cases are the second instance of measles in Victoria this year, bringing the total number of cases to five.
All reported cases were found within members of one family, with two being infectious on their return flight from Singapore to Melbourne. The Department of Health has also classified Qantas Flight QF36 or Emirates EK5036, and the Melbourne Airport international arrival terminal as exposure sites.
Passengers on the flights mentioned above are being contacted and advised to watch out for symptoms. In particular, passengers at the airport between 6.10AM and 8.40AM on Tuesday, November 15th are being advised to practice caution until December 3rd.
This marks the second reported and confirmed cases of measles in Victoria this year. In June 2022, a woman who had recently returned from holiday in the UK reported symptoms and immediately sought medical attention.
The Department of Health especially advises people who have not received a documented measles vaccine, immunocompromised persons, and infants (especially under 11 months of age) to be at higher risk of contracting the infection. People are especially infectious five days before and four days after developing the rash.
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Initial symptoms for measles may sometimes also overlap with those of COVID19 or the flu. People may develop a fever, cough, conjunctivitis, or coryza. This is usually followed by the development of a rash, starting from the face. People who have been vaccinated against COVID or who have tested negative for COVID should get tested for measles if they develop a rash shortly after.
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