Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/national/e...-fear-of-possible-outbreak-20090125-7ph0.html
Early measles spike raises fear of possible outbreak
HEALTH authorities are warning of a possible measles outbreak in Victoria.
There have already been four reported cases this year ? twice as many as in the whole of last year or the year before ? and experts are bracing for more.
Three men aged 27, 29 and 37, and an 11-month-old girl, have come down with the disease. Two were treated in hospital emergency departments and one was admitted to hospital.
Victoria's chief health officer, John Carnie, has warned Victorians, especially young adults, to be alert to the signs and symptoms of measles.
And he said some younger doctors in GP clinics and hospital emergency departments were failing to recognise the now-rare disease quickly enough, leaving highly infectious people in crowded waiting rooms.
"Most young doctors haven't seen a case of measles these days," he said.
"We expect a further round of cases linked to these ? unless we can get to these contacts fairly quickly there is a good chance of secondary and tertiary cases."
Measles has had a comeback recently overseas, especially in Britain, where the childhood vaccine MMR was erroneously linked to autism.
But Dr Carnie said vaccination rates in Victoria were very good.
The biggest danger was unvaccinated young adults catching the disease on overseas trips. "Young adults who travel need to talk to doctors about a booster dose of MMR before they travel, to stop them bringing back a measles infection," he said.
Victoria's last big measles year was 1999 when there were several large clusters of cases in the western and eastern suburbs.
On Thursday night the Department of Human Services was notified of the fourth case in 2009. There were two cases in 2008, two in 2007 and 12 in 2006.
Measles begins similarly to the common cold, with fever, sore throat, red eyes and a cough. The rash usually begins three to seven days later, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.
Dr Carnie said anyone who suspected they had measles should ring ahead to a hospital or GP, rather than attending a crowded waiting room in an infectious state.
Measles can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia and other complications, if it is not treated.
Those most at risk are unvaccinated children over the age of six months, and unvaccinated adults aged 26 to 42.
Early measles spike raises fear of possible outbreak
HEALTH authorities are warning of a possible measles outbreak in Victoria.
There have already been four reported cases this year ? twice as many as in the whole of last year or the year before ? and experts are bracing for more.
Three men aged 27, 29 and 37, and an 11-month-old girl, have come down with the disease. Two were treated in hospital emergency departments and one was admitted to hospital.
Victoria's chief health officer, John Carnie, has warned Victorians, especially young adults, to be alert to the signs and symptoms of measles.
And he said some younger doctors in GP clinics and hospital emergency departments were failing to recognise the now-rare disease quickly enough, leaving highly infectious people in crowded waiting rooms.
"Most young doctors haven't seen a case of measles these days," he said.
"We expect a further round of cases linked to these ? unless we can get to these contacts fairly quickly there is a good chance of secondary and tertiary cases."
Measles has had a comeback recently overseas, especially in Britain, where the childhood vaccine MMR was erroneously linked to autism.
But Dr Carnie said vaccination rates in Victoria were very good.
The biggest danger was unvaccinated young adults catching the disease on overseas trips. "Young adults who travel need to talk to doctors about a booster dose of MMR before they travel, to stop them bringing back a measles infection," he said.
Victoria's last big measles year was 1999 when there were several large clusters of cases in the western and eastern suburbs.
On Thursday night the Department of Human Services was notified of the fourth case in 2009. There were two cases in 2008, two in 2007 and 12 in 2006.
Measles begins similarly to the common cold, with fever, sore throat, red eyes and a cough. The rash usually begins three to seven days later, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.
Dr Carnie said anyone who suspected they had measles should ring ahead to a hospital or GP, rather than attending a crowded waiting room in an infectious state.
Measles can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia and other complications, if it is not treated.
Those most at risk are unvaccinated children over the age of six months, and unvaccinated adults aged 26 to 42.