UPDATE: December 10, 2019: Health authorities have released an updated list of public exposure sites in Victoria after more measles cases were identified.
In 2019 there have now been 56 cases of confirmed measles notified in Victoria. Almost all cases are in people who are not fully immunised against measles, who have either travelled overseas or been in contact with travellers from overseas in Victoria. Many cases are people born since 1966 who believed they were fully immunised but who had not had two doses of MMR vaccine.
The table below is a summary of all public exposure sites for all current measles cases in Victoria.
UPDATE: August 2, 2019: Three confirmed measles case have been identified in Victorian residents who have returned from overseas travel. Two cases were infectious while attending public places; Phillip Island and Eastland shopping centre.
The table below is a summary of all public exposure sites for the current measles cases in Victoria.
UPDATE: July 24, 2019: Victorian parents are again being urged to be on the lookout for measles symptoms in their children, after a new confirmed case in Melbourne.
A person who was infectious whilst returning from overseas travel in the Philippines to Melbourne. The confirmed case travelled on Saturday 20 July 4pm – 6.30pm Cebu Pacific flight 5J49 Manila to Melbourne, Melbourne Airport – Terminal 2. Authorities say to be on the lookout for symptoms (see further down in this article for symptoms) until 7 August 2019.
There have now been 27 cases of confirmed measles notified in Victoria this year. Almost all cases are in people who are not fully immunised against measles, who have either travelled overseas or been in contact with travellers from overseas in Victoria.
UPDATE: May 22, 2019: Two new cases of measles have now emerged in Victoria, prompting authorities to issue a fresh warning.
Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Angie Bone has confirmed the Victorians came in contact with an overseas tourist who was in the state in the first week of May. The two most recent cases have been to several public areas while infectious, creating a risk for transmission at a range of exposure sites.
The current exposure sites in Victoria are listed below:
UPDATE May 16, 2019: Victorian health authorities are urging parents to be on alert for measles symptoms, after another confirmed case in Melbourne.
A new case of measles has been confirmed in an overseas traveller who visited Victoria while infectious. This is in addition to the four cases of measles confirmed in Victorian residents recently. This includes people who may have been infectious whilst attending multiple public areas. The table below is a summary of all new exposure sites in Victoria.
UPDATE May 8, 2019: Victorian health authorities are once again urging parents to be on alert for measles symptoms with four cases of measles confirmed in Victorian residents in the past week.
This includes people who may have been infectious whilst attending multiple public areas. The table below is a summary of all exposure sites in Victoria:
UPDATE March, 2019: Victorian health authorities are urging parents to be on alert for measles symptoms, after another confirmed case in Melbourne.
There is a confirmed case of measles in a person who may have been infectious whilst attending multiple public areas across metropolitan Melbourne between Saturday 16 March and Monday 18 March 2019.
The illness was acquired in the Northern Territory where there is currently an outbreak of measles.
- Saturday 16 March Day Australian Grand Prix – Jones Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1
- Sunday 17 March 12pm – 1pm Woolworths Braybrook
- Sunday 17 March Day Australian Grand Prix – Fangio Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1
- Monday 18 March 1pm – 2pm Woolworths Braybrook
Victorian health authorities are urging parents to be on alert for measles symptoms in their children, after another confirmed case in Melbourne.
An infected man in his 20s visited Box Hill Hospital several times last week, and developed symptoms later in the week, according to The Department of Health and Human Services.
He visited the Arnold Street Hospital on the following dates:
- Thursday 10 January: Box Hill Hospital (8.00am to 9.30pm) including lunch in the onsite café, Zouki Cafeteria
- Friday 11 January: Box Hill Hospital (8.00am to 6.30pm) including lunch in the onsite café, Zouki Cafeteria
- Saturday 12 January: Box Hill Hospital (8.00am to 9.30pm) including lunch in the onsite café, Zouki Cafeteria
It follows two other confirmed measles cases in Victoria in December. Each case visited a number of places in Victoria between Monday 10 and Saturday 22 December 2018:
- Monday 10 December – UNITE 2018 Syro-Malabar National Youth Conference, Philip Island Adventure Resort, Cowes (until 3pm)
- Tuesday 11 December – Melbourne Airport (10.30am – 11.30am)
- Tuesday 11 December – Tiger Airways flight TT665 departed Melbourne 11.30am to Canberra
- Saturday 22 December – David Jones, Melbourne (12.30pm – 2.30pm)
- Saturday 22 December – Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne (2.30pm – 4.30pm)
What you need to know early measles symptoms
Measles has an incubation period between 7 and 18 days (average 14 days from exposure to rash).
Who is at risk?
- Children younger than five-years-old
- Anyone with a chronic illness
- Anyone who hasn’t been immunised
What are the symptoms?
- First symptoms include fever (at least 38°C), a severe cough and conjunctivitis (sore, red eyes).
- General discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing (malaise)
- Runny nose
- Red and bluish spots inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)
- Red and blotchy skin rash that appears first on the face and hairline, and then spreads to the body and usually lasts more than three days.
How does measles spread?
The virus is usually spread when someone swallows or inhales a cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person. However, you can also catch it from touching surfaces that have been contaminated by someone who has the measles – the virus in mucus and saliva droplets stays alive for several hours.
If you’re concerned that you or your children may have been exposed, you can get more information from the Department of Health.
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