Vaccination warning after toddler contracts measles, exposes international flight

AN UNVACCINATED toddler has contracted measles and exposed a plane full of international travellers to the contagious disease.

AN UNVACCINATED toddler has contracted measles and exposed a plane full of international travellers to the contagious disease.

The three-year-old, from Melbourne, is recovering in hospital after becoming sick while in Indonesia.

Passengers who travelled on a Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Melbourne have been urged to be on high alert for symptoms of the infectious disease.

Garuda Indonesia flight GA 716 was exposed to the illness.

The child was a passenger on the GA 716 flight, which arrived at Tullamarine airport on Saturday, May 13, at 9.20am.

One week later, the three-year-old was admitted to hospital with the disease, where it is expected they will remain until at least Tuesday.

Acting chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said efforts had been made to inform the child’s parents on the importance of vaccination since their toddler was sent to hospital.

“I think they decided against (vaccination) for whatever reason,” he said.

“It’s not an insignificant illness.”

A man who told the Herald Sun he was the father of the toddler said he and his wife were not against all vaccinations.

The man, who declined to provide his name, said his child had received most vaccinations but had not been vaccinated against measles.

But he would not say why, or whether that was a deliberate decision.

“We are not anti-vaxxers, we’re actually pro-safe vaccines,” he said.

A child gets an injection. Picture: Supplied

The Department of Health and Human Services has urged passengers on the Garuda Indonesia to be aware of the symptoms of measles.

The illness typically begins with common cold symptoms, followed by fever.

A rash usually begins between three and seven days after the first symptoms, usually starting on the face then spreading to the rest of the body.

“Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause serious illness, particularly in very young children and adults,” Dr Sutton said.

“People with measles are often hospitalised.”

Serious complications can also result, including pneumonia.

Measles cases in Victoria are typically linked to international travel, especially travel in Indonesia.

Those who are most likely to contract the disease are travellers who have not been vaccinated or those who have been in contact with unvaccinated travellers on their return.

Adults aged between 26 and 42 are most at risk given they have lower immunisation coverage while most adults over 42 would be protected due to being exposed as children.

Anyone with symptoms is urged to contact their GP or hospital before arrival for treatment.

There have not yet been any further confirmed cases of measles from passengers on the Garuda Indonesia flight.

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