A measles outbreak in Western Australia has grown, with two new exposure locations in the state’s southwest confirmed.
People who visited Vasse Village, near Bunbury Farmers Market, from noon to 1pm on Wednesday October 22, and the Margaret River Emergency Department from 11am to 7pm on Monday October 27, are sites may have been exposed to the infectious disease, the Department of Health said.
There have been 52 cases of measles recorded in WA this year, including eight in the Pilbara earlier this month.
Measles is a highly-infectious virus that can lead to serious illness and even death.
It tends to develop about ten days after a patient is exposed to the virus, but it can vary from one week to 18 days.
Symptoms can include a fever, tiredness, runny nose, cough, sore red eyes and a red blotchy rash, which usually appears three to four days later than other symptoms.
‘People with measles usually feel very unwell, and some may end up in hospital,’ the WA Health alert reads.
‘Complications include pneumonia, and less often, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Health authorities have confirmed two more locations for measles exposure in WA
There have been 52 cases of measles recorded in WA this year and the highly-infectious virus that can lead to serious illness and even death
Anyone who has visited the new locations is encouraged to seek medical advice immediately if they have symptoms.
People should understand that droplets in the air can still infect people entering a room up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left it.Â
People born after 1965 are urged to make sure they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine at some stage in their life.
The first dost of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine is typically given at 12 months but babies as young as six months can receive it prior to travel to certain countries.
Australia has largely eliminated endemic measles but cases continue to arise, mostly from people who have travelled overseas.
Recent measles cases have been recorded in several Australian states including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Global case numbers are rising across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle least with outbreaks in a number of countries close to Australia.
Victoria Health chief health officer Dr Caroline McElnay said:Â ‘There are several outbreaks in South-East Asia currently, including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, with Queensland and Western Australia recently reporting measles cases in returned travellers from Bali.’
Share or comment on this article:
Outbreak of highly contagious disease grows in one Aussie state