Australia's health authorities have issued an urgent warning following the detection of a measles case at Melbourne Airport, one of the country's busiest travel hubs.

This comes just days after a similar case was reported in Sydney, raising concerns about a potential outbreak of this highly contagious disease.

On 14 February, an infected passenger arrived in Melbourne from Dubai on Emirates flight EK408, landing at 10:50 PM.

Victoria Health has since listed Melbourne International Terminal as a public exposure site for measles from 14 February and 15, between 10:50 PM to 12:20 AM. The domestic terminal is also listed for 15 February, from 1:30 PM to 2:35 PM.

Another measles case was detected in Melbourne. Credit: Freepik

‘Anyone who has attended a listed exposure site during the specified date and time should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop,’ Dr Clare Looker, Victoria's Chief Health Officer, advised.

'Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical care. Wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated from others.’

This warning comes on the heels of a similar incident in Sydney, where a Jetstar passenger flying in from the Gold Coast was diagnosed with the virus.

The traveller had recently returned from Southeast Asia, a region currently grappling with a measles outbreak. The traveller took Jetstar flight JQ427 from the Gold Coast to Sydney on 7 February, landing at 10:15 PM.

The traveller passed through Sydney Domestic Terminal 2 between 10:15 PM and 11 PM.

It was reported that on 10 February, the traveller rode bus route 288 from Sussex St at Erskine St in the city to Lane Cove Interchange Stand C from 9:30 AM to 10 AM.

Then, they visited Thai Chiva Therapeutic Massage at Lane Cove between 10 AM and 7 PM and Satang Thai Take Away Restaurant at Haymarket between 9 PM and 11 PM.

In a similar incident, a traveller who also recently returned from Asia on 5 February has also been confirmed to have measles, which alerted multiple areas in New South Wales (NSW).

The alert specifically advised primary and secondary students who used the Singh Company school bus on 5 February, as well as residents who visited Murwillumbah Hospital between specific hours on Friday and Saturday, to be vigilant for symptoms.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

According to Victoria Health, the disease begins with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore or red eyes, and a runny nose, followed by a red maculopapular rash that usually starts on the face before spreading down the body.

People with measles are potentially infectious from 24 hours prior to the onset of initial symptoms until four days after the rash appears.

Symptoms can develop between seven to 18 days after exposure.

‘Anyone born during or since 1966 who does not have documented evidence of having received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or does not have documented evidence of immunity, is at risk of measles,’ Dr Looker said.

'Unvaccinated infants are at particularly high risk of contracting measles.’

‘Young infants, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system are at increased risk of serious complications from measles.’

Key Takeaways

• A passenger arriving on an Emirates flight at Melbourne Airport has been confirmed to have the measles virus.
• Public exposure sites have been listed at the Melbourne International terminal and the domestic terminal for specific dates and times.
• Health authorities recommend that anyone who attended these sites should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if they develop.
• There is an urgent warning for travellers and those born during or since 1966 to ensure they are vaccinated, as measles can lead to serious health complications.

Have you, or anyone you know, been diagnosed with measles before? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[Rob44]

Measles used to be a common rite-of-passage in young children in the 1950s, alleviated in part by applications of calamine lotion to ease the itching. Likewise "German" measles and scarlet fever, whatever that was.

Probably a more fearful national health problem is indicated by a recent USA study that has shown that 47 million people in the USA have or have had Long-Covid after having "recovered" from "short"-Covid . Long-covid displays a multitude of significant and debilitating conditions. Now that the pandemic has become an endemic in Australia, it behoves us to consider that there are 322 million people in the USA, not all of whom have had Covid-19. However, that works out as approximately 1 in 6 Americans are suffering or have suffered from Long-Covid. Which for endemic-rich Australia works out as potentially 4 million people (1/3rd of those 12 million infected by Covid-19) or perhaps merely 2 million people. Which is a huge drain on Australia's medical resources, from GPs to our public hospitals and access to our assorted specialists.

So, wear that mask when you go out. It may prevent your spreading your C-19 infection as well as the flu and common cold. And may also save you from measles.

Reference: “Long COVID in the United States” by David G. Blanchflower and Alex Bryson, 2 November 2023, PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292672

 

[gamiry]

Measles used to be a common rite-of-passage in young children in the 1950s, alleviated in part by applications of calamine lotion to ease the itching. Likewise "German" measles and scarlet fever, whatever that was.

Probably a more fearful national health problem is indicated by a recent USA study that has shown that 47 million people in the USA have or have had Long-Covid after having "recovered" from "short"-Covid . Long-covid displays a multitude of significant and debilitating conditions. Now that the pandemic has become an endemic in Australia, it behoves us to consider that there are 322 million people in the USA, not all of whom have had Covid-19. However, that works out as approximately 1 in 6 Americans are suffering or have suffered from Long-Covid. Which for endemic-rich Australia works out as potentially 4 million people (1/3rd of those 12 million infected by Covid-19) or perhaps merely 2 million people. Which is a huge drain on Australia's medical resources, from GPs to our public hospitals and access to our assorted specialists.

So, wear that mask when you go out. It may prevent your spreading your C-19 infection as well as the flu and common cold. And may also save you from measles.

Reference: “Long COVID in the United States” by David G. Blanchflower and Alex Bryson, 2 November 2023, PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292672

my brother and I had 10 bouts between us in 12 months. We're still alive but I wonder when you yell for masks that you ever think of those of us who either can't wear those cursed things, the wonderful people who find it necessary to abuse the non wearers or ever try to find why these people don't wear them. I am very deaf and lip read and another dear man in this town is deaf and dumb. How do you think we get on trying to read what people are saying through a mask? Apart from a couple of very special friends no-one comes near me and I refer to my unit as "my jail".

 

[Gsr]

I really don’t think measles is a deadly disease. People can get vaccinated against it now, also most people from my generation and older had measles as a kid, and I never heard of anyone dying from it. Occasionally there is a death, supposedly caused by measles, but I wonder if these people had other underlying health conditions as well. Seems to be some scare mongering going on in the media about this.

 

[tabbycat2505]

can you get measles if you have had it in the past younger life?

 

[Gsr]

can you get measles if you have had it in the past younger life?

You can get it more than once, but you should have built up some immunity to it if you have already had it. I had it as a kid, then when my kids and hubby got it and I looked after them I didn’t get it again. The kids had had vaccinations, hubby hadn’t and didn’t have it as a kid so he was pretty sick. His dr didn’t want to put him in hospital, he told him he would get better looked after at home with me, since I was a registered nurse.

 

[Mina vriesekolk]

can you get measles if you have had it in the past younger life?

No, you can not measles again if you had it as a child , you are immune for life .

 

[Frida1944]

my brother and I had 10 bouts between us in 12 months. We're still alive but I wonder when you yell for masks that you ever think of those of us who either can't wear those cursed things, the wonderful people who find it necessary to abuse the non wearers or ever try to find why these people don't wear them. I am very deaf and lip read and another dear man in this town is deaf and dumb. How do you think we get on trying to read what people are saying through a mask? Apart from a couple of very special friends no-one comes near me and I refer to my unit as "my jail".

I find it hard to believe you and your brother had 10 bouts within 12 months!
I understand your difficulty with masks.
However, wearing a mask protects all citizens from this virus as it can be passed on by a person carrying the virus merely coughing.
When in a pandemic situation we have to think of the greater good, not just one individual.

 

[Frida1944]

I really don’t think measles is a deadly disease. People can get vaccinated against it now, also most people from my generation and older had measles as a kid, and I never heard of anyone dying from it. Occasionally there is a death, supposedly caused by measles, but I wonder if these people had other underlying health conditions as well. Seems to be some scare mongering going on in the media about this.

You are completely wrong to think this is a scaremongering article.
I am old enough to remember a time before the vaccine was available.
Measles can cause a multitude of conditions, including death.
You would not want to see a child suffering from this condition as it is very distressing.
The vaccine had all but eradicated this disease.
You say you had it as a child, so presumably you had the vaccine.
However, with the advent of the anti-vaxxers it has risen its ugly head again.

 

[Fat&fancy]

I find it hard to believe you and your brother had 10 bouts within 12 months!
I understand your difficulty with masks.
However, wearing a mask protects all citizens from this virus as it can be passed on by a person carrying the virus merely coughing.
When in a pandemic situation we have to think of the greater good, not just one individual.

Masks are useless!

 

[Yani]

Measles can cause many birth defects in the child if the mother catches measles whilst pregnant.

How does rubella/measles affect a Foetus?

Complications affect 85 out of 100 babies whose mothers had rubella just before or at the beginning of the pregnancy. Complications include deafness, cataracts, heart defects, brain disorders, mental retardation, bone alterations, liver and spleen damage.
This is not Doctor Google.

 

[Rob44]

my brother and I had 10 bouts between us in 12 months. We're still alive but I wonder when you yell for masks that you ever think of those of us who either can't wear those cursed things, the wonderful people who find it necessary to abuse the non wearers or ever try to find why these people don't wear them. I am very deaf and lip read and another dear man in this town is deaf and dumb. How do you think we get on trying to read what people are saying through a mask? Apart from a couple of very special friends no-one comes near me and I refer to my unit as "my jail".

I am neither yelling abuse nor criticising anyone who is unable to wear a mask. The simple reason that I caught covid and ended up coughing fresh blood for several days was because most people in the local shopping centre simply were too idle to consider wearing a mask and use the freely-provided hand-cleanser. And that could well be why you and your brother have had ten bouts of covid between you; other peoples' laziness, including those who may well feel the need to wander around whilst carrying any respiratory virus.

If wearing masks is useless, why do surgeons and nurses wear surgical masks in an operating theatre? To prevent cross-infection from bugs that they may be carrying. It's that simple. Why do they wash their hands carefully; to prevent cross-infection.

 

[gamiry]

I find it hard to believe you and your brother had 10 bouts within 12 months!
I understand your difficulty with masks.
However, wearing a mask protects all citizens from this virus as it can be passed on by a person carrying the virus merely coughing.
When in a pandemic situation we have to think of the greater good, not just one individual.

I don't csre if you believe it or not, I know what my poor mother went through and my brother's last lot was over Christmas 1946 where he was delerious saying "Santa Clause is going to bring me Mr Dobson's pigs tonight Mummy". The only thing Mum could do is give him water and aspro.
As for the masks, try shopping with people abusing you, walking great circles around and expecting you to know what they are saying when you can't see their mouth. You are very lucky you can still hear anything.

 

[gamiry]

I am neither yelling abuse nor criticising anyone who is unable to wear a mask. The simple reason that I caught covid and ended up coughing fresh blood for several days was because most people in the local shopping centre simply were too idle to consider wearing a mask and use the freely-provided hand-cleanser. And that could well be why you and your brother have had ten bouts of covid between you; other peoples' laziness, including those who may well feel the need to wander around whilst carrying any respiratory virus.

If wearing masks is useless, why do surgeons and nurses wear surgical masks in an operating theatre? To prevent cross-infection from bugs that they may be carrying. It's that simple. Why do they wash their hands carefully; to prevent cross-infection.

I didn't leave my unit for weeks then a new helper brought Covid right into my home. She acturally had a doctor's app't following her visit to me. I copped it and 3 weeks later I'm still far from right. By the way, I also carry a doctor's letter re not wearing masks. Masks were not used in the 1940's for measles. It was just accepted as part of life.

 

[gamiry]

You are completely wrong to think this is a scaremongering article.
I am old enough to remember a time before the vaccine was available.
Measles can cause a multitude of conditions, including death.
You would not want to see a child suffering from this condition as it is very distressing.
The vaccine had all but eradicated this disease.
You say you had it as a child, so presumably you had the vaccine.
However, with the advent of the anti-vaxxers it has risen its ugly head again.

there were NO vaccines for everyday stuff like measles; mumps and chickenpox. I was even made to get into bed with my brother in the hope I'd get his chickenpox. Didn't get it and ditto for when my 3 kids got it. I don't know how old you are but on March 18 I'll be 82.

 

[gamiry]

No, you can not measles again if you had it as a child , you are immune for life .

bullshit

 

[gamiry]

I say no more. There are none so stupid as those who will not or don't want to LEARN

 

[Rob44]

I find it hard to believe you and your brother had 10 bouts within 12 months!
I understand your difficulty with masks.
However, wearing a mask protects all citizens from this virus as it can be passed on by a person carrying the virus merely coughing.
When in a pandemic situation we have to think of the greater good, not just one individual.

I didn't leave my unit for weeks then a new helper brought Covid right into my home. She acturally had a doctor's app't following her visit to me. I copped it and 3 weeks later I'm still far from right. By the way, I also carry a doctor's letter re not wearing masks. Masks were not used in the 1940's for measles. It was just accepted as part of life.

I didn't leave my unit for weeks then a new helper brought Covid right into my home. She acturally had a doctor's app't following her visit to me. I copped it and 3 weeks later I'm still far from right. By the way, I also carry a doctor's letter re not wearing masks. Masks were not used in the 1940's for measles. It was just accepted as part of life.

I appreciate your comments. They also show how thoughtless are Australians when it comes to caring for others and that is where lies the basis of my irritation about non-masked people coughing in crowded public spaces. "No child will live in poverty by 1990" has to be one of the more fatuous statements uttered by a politician. It must be close to 10 years ago that I read in a Virgin in-flight magazine that 1 million children in Australia lived in poverty/went to school without breakfast. That would make those kids about 15-17 years old now. Poverty breeds crime and criminals; even if it is only in our self-interest, we as a society should be resolving that problem by ensuring that no-one in Australia lives in poverty and has to get food from charitable food-banks. Waltzing Matilda; our ironical national song about poverty and Australian criminals, rich and poor.

 

[gamiry]

I appreciate your comments. They also show how thoughtless are Australians when it comes to caring for others and that is where lies the basis of my irritation about non-masked people coughing in crowded public spaces. "No child will live in poverty by 1990" has to be one of the more fatuous statements uttered by a politician. It must be close to 10 years ago that I read in a Virgin in-flight magazine that 1 million children in Australia lived in poverty/went to school without breakfast. That would make those kids about 15-17 years old now. Poverty breeds crime and criminals; even if it is only in our self-interest, we as a society should be resolving that problem by ensuring that no-one in Australia lives in poverty and has to get food from charitable food-banks. Waltzing Matilda; our ironical national song about poverty and Australian criminals, rich and poor.

Dear Rob, how I wish I could sit with you and walk you through so many of your ideas which are way off. Firstly Hawkies statement about kids living in poverty...At the time I had one of my Foster Kids, Clara. Her reply was spot on "Max, I admire that man. I think he means it but it won't happen because there will always be kids like me who don't want to live in houses and be told what to do. We have our own lives to live". This young lady aged 14, sadly, no-one could tame, her or her 2 brothers. and they all died of drug addiction. I know what I'm talking about. I was a Youth Officer, Parole and Probation Officer, mother of Foster Kids and was well known to the kids "you can always go to Max". I took in street kids and later in life I took in recovering drug addicts and alcoholics for 7 years. I respsectfully suggest that you volunteer in some work with kids of any age and find out facts.

 

[Rob44]

Dear Rob, how I wish I could sit with you and walk you through so many of your ideas which are way off. Firstly Hawkies statement about kids living in poverty...At the time I had one of my Foster Kids, Clara. Her reply was spot on "Max, I admire that man. I think he means it but it won't happen because there will always be kids like me who don't want to live in houses and be told what to do. We have our own lives to live". This young lady aged 14, sadly, no-one could tame, her or her 2 brothers. and they all died of drug addiction. I know what I'm talking about. I was a Youth Officer, Parole and Probation Officer, mother of Foster Kids and was well known to the kids "you can always go to Max". I took in street kids and later in life I took in recovering drug addicts and alcoholics for 7 years. I respsectfully suggest that you volunteer in some work with kids of any age and find out facts.

Indeed; the old saying that one can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. However, in general poverty can lead to disenfranchisement and to cynicism and crime and ultimately to the growth of criminal gangs and endemic corruption, and Australia is by no means a poor country that should allow the less-well-off to be fed by charitable food-banks; I have spent enough of my working life in developing nations to see that type of problem. If there is no visible constructive future for kids, what is there? Again, a motherhood comment not applicable to all people.

I and my childhood peers were all brought up at a time in the UK when the place still suffered from WW2 quite seriously (one of my outdoor play areas was the open cleared basement of a bombed-out building just up the road); three families to a three-floor 'upstairs-downstairs" type of Victorian house with a bath in a room split into a small living room and kitchen (where sat the bath) ; and my best friend with a single mum with no available hot water other than that which they boiled in their kettle and suffering other deprivations such as no car, no TV, no washing machine, no clothes dryer and even no bicycle, and none of us that I know of went "bad", or needed to be fed by food-banks. Perhaps our parents, who had seen worse during the Great Depression and WW2, were able to instill hope for our future and the UK then had governments working seriously to realise those hopes, unlike Australia and New Zealand since about 1985 and the UK since 1979.