Status: Active
Date issued: 19 December 2018
Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Acting Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Issued to: General Practitioners and Hospital Emergency Departments
Key messages
- There has been one confirmed case of measles who may have been infectious while at a number of places in Victoria between Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December 2018:
- 10 December – UNITE 2018 Syro Malabar National Youth Conference, Phillip Island Adventure Resort, Cowes until 3pm)
- 11 December – Melbourne Airport (9.00am -12.00 midday)
- 11 December – Tiger Airways flight TT665 departed Melbourne 11:30am to Canberra.
- Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended the above places.
- 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 cases.
- 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.
- Free measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is now available from GPs and pharmacies for all eligible adults born during or since 1966.
Read the full alert: New imported measles case in Melbourne
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.