Status: Active
Date issued: 25 November 2019 (update to Alert issued 20 Nov 2019)
Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Issued to: General practitioners and hospital emergency departments
Key messages
- Two new confirmed measles cases have been identified in Victoria. The two new cases were infectious while attending public sites across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Anyone planning overseas travel should ensure they have received vaccinations appropriate to travel.
- Infants as young as six months of age can receive free MMR vaccine prior to travel overseas.
- Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they were overseas or visited detailed sites 7-18 days prior to onset of illness.
- Isolate suspected cases.
- 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 cases. Seek approval from the Department prior to taking nose and throat swab for PCR testing.
- Offer free measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to all people born during or since 1966 who do not have documentation that they have received two measles containing vaccines, or are unsure of their vaccination history, regardless of Medicare status.
Read the full alert: New measles cases in Victoria