Urgent measles alert for Australian airports

A measles alert has been issued for Melbourne and Brisbane airports after an infectious person returned from overseas.

The traveller was infectious when they arrived from Indonesia, transiting through Melbourne Airport before travelling to Queensland.

The passenger flew on Qantas flights QF40 from Jakarta to Melbourne on Sunday July 2, then on flight QF610 from Melbourne to Brisbane which departed at 9.50am on the following day.

The person transited through Melbourne Airport’s international terminal (T2) and Qantas domestic terminal (T1) at Tullamarine on Monday 3 July between 6.20am and 9.50am.

Victoria’s Health Department has urged those who were in the airport at this time to monitor for symptoms until July 21. Measles symptoms typically appear between seven and 18 days after infection.

The Queensland government issued a measles alert for Brisbane’s domestic airport between noon and 1pm on July 3 and for sites on the northside and Redcliffe on Saturday after becoming aware of the case.

The affected person visited a number of businesses and locations in Brisbane and Redcliffe while infectious, a full list can be found on the Queensland Health website.

People who attended the exposure sites are urged to seek medical care if they develop symptoms, and to wear a mask and call ahead to ensure they can be isolated from others.

Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads easily through those who are not vaccinated. Young children and those with weakened immune systems are the most at risk of serious illness.

Symptoms begin with fever, runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis, followed by a rash.

Measles characteristic rash with both flat and raised parts begins three to four days after first symptoms. It generally starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.

“We recommend that people who were at any of the exposure sites monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if they become unwell,” Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said.

“Recent Victorian cases of measles have been identified in people who are not fully immunised against measles and who have travelled overseas or been in contact with returned overseas travellers. Measles is rare in Australia, thanks to widespread vaccination rates.

“People who are planning to travel overseas should ensure they have received appropriate vaccinations, including MMR vaccine if they don’t have a history of two previous MMR vaccinations,” Professor Sutton added.

Queensland Health recommends that anyone born in 1966 or after, who has not had two documented doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or had proven measles, should visit their doctor to get vaccinated for measles.