Chief Health Officer Alert
2 October, 2017
Measles
Status: Active
Date issued: 2 October 2017 (update to previous Alerts issued 18,19, 27 and 28 September)
Issued by: Professor Charles Guest, Chief Health, Victoria
Issued to: General Practitioners and Hospital Emergency Departments
Key messages
- There have now been 11 cases of measles confirmed in the current Melbourne outbreak.
- The cases were infectious whilst at a number of places across Melbourne.
- Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended any of the places listed below. Symptoms may have started anytime from 5 September. New cases may show symptoms up until 17 October 2017.
- Manage suspected cases in the GP setting if appropriate and avoid sending to a hospital emergency department unless the patient is severe enough to warrant admission to hospital.
- Isolate suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within your department/practice.
- Notify the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section at the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.
- Take blood for measles serology in all suspected.
- Discuss whether to take nose and throat swabs for PCR with the Department if your suspicion for measles is high. Approval is required prior to PCR testing at the reference laboratory. PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate.
More information
Read the full advisory on health.vic
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.