Status: Active
Date issued: 5 December 2017
Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Deputy Chief Officer, Victoria
Issued to: General practitioners and hospital emergency departments
- There has been one confirmed case of measles in Melbourne with the infection likely to have been acquired overseas.
- The case was infectious while at a number of places across Melbourne including:
- Tram route #19 CBD; Bourke Street Mall: Myer, David Jones and H&M clothing store (29 November 2017)
- Tram route #19 CBD; DFO Southern Cross: Cotton-On clothing store; Barkly Square Brunswick: Woolworths and Coles (30 November 2017).
- Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended any of the places listed below. Secondary cases may have symptoms start anytime from 6 December up until 18 December 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. Take blood for measles serology in all suspected cases and 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.
- 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 alert Confirmed measles case in Melbourne
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.