Measles alert for Chadstone Shopping Centre, metro trains

Chadstone Shopping Centre has become a measles exposure site after a confirmed case worked at a popular make-up store, and visited other shops, while infectious. SEE THE FULL LIST.

Chadstone Shopping Centre has been listed as a measles exposure site. Picture: Josie Hayden

A measles alert has been issued for Chadstone Shopping Centre and several other Melbourne locations after Victoria recorded two new locally-transmitted cases.

Health authorities issued an alert on Friday warning that the confirmed cases had visited several places while infectious, including the popular shopping centre, a hospital and a metro train line.

Based on the exposure times, one of the cases appeared to have been a worker at a popular make-up store, MECCA, at the shopping centre.

Authorities have asked anyone who attended Chadstone’s MECCA store between 1 and 10pm on Friday May 16, and 11am and 9pm on Thursday May 15 to monitor for measles symptoms for the next 10 to 11 days.

Kmart was also listed as an exposure site on the 15th, between 8 and 9pm, and the lower ground food court was an exposure site on the 16th between 3 and 3:35pm.

The two new cases — which authorities said were both linked to another recent confirmed case — come amid ongoing outbreaks in Victoria and multiple overseas countries, and concern about lower vaccination alerts.

There are now almost 30 exposure sites listed on the health department’s alert page, spanning multiple suburbs including Oakleigh, Glen Waverley, Rowville, Frankston, the CBD and Clayton.

The chief health officer alert warned there was “currently an increased risk of measles in greater Melbourne” at the same time Australia’s measles vaccination coverage rate had declined below the target of 95 per cent.

“A significant number of recent measles cases have acquired their infection locally in Victoria,” the alert said.

“There is also an ongoing risk of measles being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from overseas or interstate.”

Authorities warned the highly infectious disease can cause uncommon but serious complications, such as brain inflammation, and urged anyone who has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine to speak to a healthcare professional about the free vaccine program.

“The majority of recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine,” the alert said.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose, and a red rash that typically starts on the face before spreading down the body.

LATEST EXPOSURE SITES

Monitor for symptoms for up to 18 days post-exposure

Tuesday May 20, 2:15pm to 3:30pm

Monash Health Pathology (Public) Outpatient Clinics A, B, C, D (Audiology, Podiatry and Dental) 246 Clayton Road, Clayton VIC 3168

Monday May 19, 3:15pm to 4:00pm

Monash University Health Services Ground Floor, Campus Centre 21 Chancellors Walk, Clayton VIC 3168

Saturday May 17, 9:45pm to 10:00pm

Metro Trains – Frankston Line (outbound) Finders Street Station to Bentleigh Station

Saturday May 17, 12:35pm to 1:30pm

Subway 1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne 3000

Saturday May 17, 11:30am to 9:15pm

Contour Education Level 15/ 276 Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Saturday May 17, 10:35am to 11:40am

Metro Trains – Frankston Line (inbound) Bentleigh Station to Flinders Street Station

Friday May 16, 1:00pm to 10:00pm

Chadstone Shopping Centre – specifically MECCA (1:00pm to 10:00pm) and Lower ground food court (3:00pm to 3:35pm) 1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148

Friday May 16, 11:00am to 1:00pm

Volume Cafe Dandenong 108 David Street, Dandenong VIC 3175

Friday May 16, 9.30am to 11.00pm

Dandenong Hospital – specifically Ward West 3 (9:30am to 11:30am), Ward South-West 4 (12:30pm and 2:00pm) Emergency Department (3:00pm to 11:00pm) 135 David Street, Dandenong VIC 3135

Thursday May 15, 11:00am to 9:00pm

Chadstone Shopping Centre – specifically MECCA (11:00am to 8:00pm) and Kmart (8:00pm to 9:00pm) 1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148

Thursday 15 May, 7:40pm to 8:25pm

Wellington Village Shopping Centre – Rowville Pharmacy Amcal+ and Aldi 1100 Wellington Road, Rowville, VIC 3178

A full list of sites can be found on the health department’s website.