Measles outbreak prompts urgent Brisbane health warning

A measles outbreak in Brisbane has prompted an urgent health warning after an infected person travelled to various locations around the region. SEE THE LIST

A Measle virus under microscope.

A measles outbreak in Brisbane has prompted an urgent health warning after an infected person travelled to various locations around the region.

Metro South Health announced the infection on Wednesday and said symptoms included high temperatures, cough and a runny nose followed by a red spotty rash and sore, watery eyes a few days later.

“Measles is a very infectious disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms usually start 7-10 days after the contact with the infected person but can sometimes take as long as three weeks,: the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that people who had been vaccinated against or previously contracted measles were very unlikely to catch the disease even if they had been exposed.

“Those who are at highest risk of contracting measles include people who were born during or after 1966, have no documented evidence of having received 2 doses of a measles containing vaccine, have not been infected with measles before and those with a poor immune system.”

The infected individual had visited multiple sites around Brisbane including:

* Thursday 21 November – Officeworks, Logan Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt at 2:45pm to 3:45pm hrs and Out of Hours School Care, Holland Park State School, Holland Park at 6:55am to 7:40am and 3:40pm to 4:30pm.

* Friday 22 November – Chemist Warehouse Sunnybank Plaza, Sunnybank at 7:45pm to 8:35pm and 7-Eleven, Orange Grove Rd, Coopers Plains at 8:10pm to 8:50pm.

* Saturday 23 November – Dijon Toasties, Esher St, Tarragindi at 10:30am to 11:30am.

The spokesman said anyone who visited these venues during the specified periods may have been exposed to the disease and would need to look out for symptoms.

“If you are unsure of your vaccine status, you can still be vaccinated against measles unless you are pregnant or have problems with a poor immune system, it is free,” the spokesman said.

“Vaccine providers include general practices, many pharmacies and community immunisation clinics provided by Brisbane City Council and Logan City Council.

“If you think that you may have measles it is very important that you avoid public spaces.”