Measles warning for south-east Melbourne
Victoria's health department has issued a measles alert for Melbourne's south-east after a case of the infection was believed to have been acquired at Centrelink. Deputy Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the infection may have been caught at Centrelink in Dandenong between January 22 and February 2.
Children can receive the free Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age. Women of childbearing age who have low or negative rubella immunity (as determined by a blood test) can receive the MMR vaccine free of charge under the Victorian government’s initiative to ensure women are protected against rubella prior to becoming pregnant. Unvaccinated people under 20 can also receive the free MMR vaccine under the federal government’s catch-up campaign.
The measles vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines available. Two doses of the measles vaccine will prevent illness in around 99 percent of people.
"The department is attempting to contact people who may have been in contact with the individual while they were infectious," he said in a statement. He said a man aged in his forties visited a number of places while infected, beginning on Thursday, February 8 at Centrelink in Dandenong.
Where the infected man went:
Friday: Centrelink Dandenong, Mountain Gate Cricket Club, Dan Murphy's Rowville
Saturday: Fairhills High School basketball stadium, Knoxfield, Rowville Secondary College basketball stadium, Rowville
Sunday: Belgrave Cricket Ground
Monday: ABC Costume Hire, Wantirna South
The department advised patients with a fever and a rash to be alert, particularly if they visited any of the places listed. Measles has an incubation period of between seven and 18 days so those who were exposed might not develop symptoms until early March. Late last year, four new cases of measles were confirmed in Melbourne, with eight of the 11 cases identified linked to a Docklands office building.
The Victorian Health Department said the cases were linked to the Collins Square building in Collins Street, Docklands, which houses commercial offices, and a retail space.
Measles is now uncommon in Australia because of the widespread use of the measles vaccine, however it is still a risk because the infection can be brought in by overseas travellers, such as those coming from Bali, where the disease is prevalent.
Since this report on 20th February, there have been several other cases reported in Melbourne’s south-east.
Travellers have also been warned to check for measles after a backpacker infected with the disease visited popular tourist locations. The British woman, who is in her 20s, had been staying at Flinders Backpackers in Melbourne's CBD and visited St Kilda Beach, Philip Island and the Great Ocean Road between March 3 and March 7. She is now being treated in hospital.
Where the infected women went:
- Saturday March 3: Flinders Backpackers, Flinders Street train station, 16 and 96 trams, St Kilda and St Kilda Beach
- Sunday March 4: Flinders Backpackers, Coles Central (Flinders St/Elizabeth St), McDonald's (Elizabeth St)
- Monday March 5: Flinders Backpackers, Philip Island, Nobbies Visitor Centre Cafe
- Tuesday March 6: Flinders Backpackers, Westpac Bank (Elizabeth St), Medicare (Galleria Shopping Centre on Bourke St)
- Wednesday, March 7: Flinders Backpackers and "multiple sites" on the Great Ocean Road between Geelong and Warrnambool
Source: Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
A spokesman for Flinders Backpackers would not comment on the incident and did not answer questions from the ABC about how the business had responded.
The disease is highly infectious and can cause serious illness, particularly for young children and people with compromised immune systems. Victoria's Department of Health and Services said anyone unvaccinated is at risk of contracting the disease.
Most cases involve people aged between 26 and 52, the department added, as this group has lower immunisation coverage.
If you are a business or organisation in an area where you have heard the measles outbreak has occurred or you are worried you employees are at risk, Clinical Labs can perform workplace screening via a simple blood test to screen for MMR.
Contact your GP or Commercial Pathology 1300 453 688 to organise referrals for workplace MMR screening.