Shiloh
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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/04/2810215.htm
Measles alert over infected plane passenger
By Emma Masters
The Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control has issued a measles alert after confirming an infectious person passed through Darwin last week.
The centre says the person flew to Darwin from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on Jetstar flight JQ74 on Australia Day.
They left on the same flight bound for Sydney at 7am.
Passengers sitting near the infected person have already been contacted by health authorities.
"However, there is still a small risk that other passengers and visitors to the airport may have been exposed," said the director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Vicki Krause.
"Measles is a very contagious viral illness that is spread between people through coughing, sneezing," she said.
"It can affect all ages but children under 12 months and anyone not immune is at much greater risk.
"To be immune to measles you need to have either had measles or had two doses of measles vaccine."
She said typical symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash appearing three to four days later.
The measles alert applies until February 19.
Measles alert over infected plane passenger
By Emma Masters
The Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control has issued a measles alert after confirming an infectious person passed through Darwin last week.
The centre says the person flew to Darwin from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on Jetstar flight JQ74 on Australia Day.
They left on the same flight bound for Sydney at 7am.
Passengers sitting near the infected person have already been contacted by health authorities.
"However, there is still a small risk that other passengers and visitors to the airport may have been exposed," said the director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Vicki Krause.
"Measles is a very contagious viral illness that is spread between people through coughing, sneezing," she said.
"It can affect all ages but children under 12 months and anyone not immune is at much greater risk.
"To be immune to measles you need to have either had measles or had two doses of measles vaccine."
She said typical symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash appearing three to four days later.
The measles alert applies until February 19.