Australia: Measles outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23935842-29277,00.html

Parents warned as measles cases soar

June 28, 2008 09:30am
Article from: AAP

CHILDREN not even 12 months old have been infected with measles after cases increased more than tenfold in New South Wales.

Parents are being urged to have their children immunised against the disease, which is highly contagious to people who have not been vaccinated.

Three cases diagnosed this month took the total number this year to 38.

Only three cases were diagnosed in NSW in 2007 and they were all exposed while overseas, NSW Health said.

The department's director of communicable diseases Jeremy McAnulty said people could not be complacent.

"We are seeing cases in infants less than 12 months of age who are not yet due for immunisation and cases in young adults who have missed out on the MMR (measles mumps and rubella) vaccine," he said.

He urged parents to have their children vaccinated when they were 12 months old, with a second dose before they started school - at around four years old.

Adults up to 42 years of age should have two doses of the MMR vaccine unless they have already had the measles.

Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, runny nose, coughing and sore red eyes.

They are followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads over the body, lasting a few days.

"Measles is one of the most easily spread diseases and just being in the same room as someone with measles can result in infection," Dr McAnulty said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Australia: Measles outbreak

Source: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/measles-cases-spike-in-two-states-20080709-3cfw.html

Measles cases 'spike' in two states
July 9, 2008 - 4:20PM

Measles cases have spiked in two states, with national statistics showing babies and young people have been hardest hit.

The latest report from the federal health department shows 58 official notifications of the highly contagious disease in the first half of this year, compared to just seven at the same time last year.

"This is due to several localised clusters and outbreaks in NSW and Queensland, and secondary cases associated with cases who acquired measles outside of Australia," a department spokeswoman said.

NSW has been most severely affected, with 38 cases, including a few babies less than one year old.

Nationwide, 10 children under the age of four have been affected, while 17 involve adolescents and teenagers and most of the remaining cases affect people in their 20s.

Both federal and state authorities have warned that a significant proportion of those affected had not been immunised, or had only received one dose of the two-dose vaccine.

The measles vaccine is provided at age 12 months and 18 months, with a catch-up at four years for those who have missed out earlier, leaving babies under one at particular risk, the spokeswoman said.

Parents have been warned to watch for initial symptoms including fever, fatigue, runny nose, coughing and sore red eyes.

These are later followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads over the body, lasting a few days.

? 2008 AAP

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Australia: Measles outbreak

Source: http://magnetictimes.com/index.php?ID=2770

July 11th 2008
Measles outbreak in Townsville

Queensland Health is today warning residents to be on the look out for the symptoms of measles following the first confirmed case of the disease in Townsville for more than a decade.

In a media release to Magnetic Times, Tropical Population Health Network Public Health Doctor Steven Donohue said laboratory tests had confirmed a two-year-old boy had contracted the highly contagious disease.

?Although the boy did not need to be hospitalised, he was quite ill from the infection,? said Dr Donohue.

?The next concern is the very real possibility that the virus may have spread even further into the community, before the symptoms became clear.

?Population health officers have been very active in trying to identify individuals who may have been exposed, including close family members of the boy.

?We have offered to vaccinate several people who have come into contact with the boy and who have yet to receive their measles vaccinations.

?The vaccine can help prevent measles, even after exposure.

?This needs to be given within three days of any exposure, but of course would protect from later transmission during an outbreak.

?Queensland Health will work with GPs to actively investigate all suspected cases and undertake steps to prevent further transmission.?

Dr Donohue thanked the affected boy?s family for their cooperation.

Measles is extremely contagious and is spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus can last for several hours in the environment.

Measles can be very distressing for the affected individual, and can be complicated by pneumonia and encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain). It can be a severe illness even in otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults.

The initial symptoms of measles are:
? fever
? lethargy
? runny nose
? moist cough
? sore red eyes
? followed by a widespread blotchy red rash.

Dr Donohue said symptoms usually started around 10 days after contact with an infected person.

?Now is the time for people to be particularly aware of any signs of infection in themselves or their children,? Dr Donohue said.

?Anyone who develops a fever, cough, runny nose and eyes, and a blotchy red rash over the next few weeks should seek advice from their GP.

"However, it is important that people ring ahead to the practice to say they could have measles, and ask to be seen away from the waiting room to avoid spreading the disease to others.?

Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR) are recommended by Australian authorities to prevent the disease.

The first dose is currently recommended at 12 months of age and the second at four years of age.

"Immunisation is the best protection against measles, so parents should ensure that their children are vaccinated on time,? said Dr Donohue.

?Anyone born after 1965 should be sure that they have had two doses of MMR to ensure optimal protection from measles.?