Status: Active
Date issued: 20 November 2019
Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Issued to: General practitioners and hospital emergency departments
Key messages
- A new confirmed measles case has been identified in Victoria. This case is a visitor who was infectious on an overseas flight transiting through Auckland to Melbourne as well as other public sites across 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, regardless of Medicare status.
Read the full alert: New measles case in Victoria