Eight new measles cases on Brisbane’s southside triggers public health alert

Eight new measles cases have been reported, triggering a public health alert for Brisbane’s southside.

QUEENSLAND has recorded eight more measles cases, triggering a public health alert on Brisbane’s southside.

The new cases take numbers of the highly contagious virus recorded in Queensland so far this year to 41 — almost three times the 14 recorded for the whole of 2018.

Health authorities have warned people on China Airlines Flight C145 arriving into Brisbane International Airport from Auckland at 9.20pm on October 8 to be alert for measles symptoms.

MEASLES FLYING IN FROM NZ

CELEBRITY ANTI-VAXXERS UNDERMINE HEALTH MESSAGES

Eight new measles cases have been diagnosed in Queensland.

People attending St Francis College at Crestmead on October 9 and 10 and Princess Alexandra Hospital between 9am and 10pm on October 11 have also been warned they may have come into contact with measles.

Metro South Health public health physician Kari Jarvinen said people who feared they may have contracted the virus should seek medical advice.

“Measles is very contagious and remains airborne up to 30 minutes after the person has left the room,” Dr Jarvinen said.

“It is spread by tiny droplets through coughing and sneezing.”

Early symptoms include a fever, runny nose, fatigue and sore, red eyes.

“This is followed by a blotchy red rash, which often starts on the face before becoming widespread.

Symptoms usually start at about seven to 10 days after contact with a person infected with measles.

Dr Jarvinen anyone who developed measles-like symptoms within the next fortnight should contact a general practitioner for advice.

He said due to ongoing increased measles transmission overseas, it was particularly important for travellers to get two doses of measles, mumps rubella vaccine before leaving Australia if they had not previously beenimmunisedd or had the virus.

“No-one wants to risk becoming ill or requiring hospitalisation for themselves or children, and the subsequent days off work, university, school or daycare,” Dr Jarvinen said.

“Measles can be a serious illness with complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, which can be fatal.”

Dr Jarvinen said it was very important to call ahead to a medical practice or hospital emergency department to say you may have measles before attending so that staff could take precautions to avoid spreading the disease to others.

For more details on where the latest cases visited while infectious: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/health-alerts/measles