Urgent: Is your city at risk of a measles outbreak?
- Replies 14
Members, we are here with another health update—a measles alert has been issued in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Health authorities in Victoria and Queensland are on high alert, thanks to a traveller who hopped between the states while being infected with measles.
The traveller in question journeyed by taking Qantas flight QF40 from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Melbourne on Sunday, July 2.
They then continued their travel on flight QF610 from Melbourne to Brisbane, departing at 9:50 am on the subsequent day.
During their transit, the passenger moved through Melbourne Airport's international terminal (T2) and Qantas domestic terminal (T1) at Tullamarine on Monday, July 3, between 6:20 am and 9:50 am.
Victorian health authorities are strongly encouraging passengers who travelled through the airport within the stated time frame to be on the lookout for symptoms.
The Queensland government has also issued a measles alert for Brisbane's domestic airport from noon to 1 pm on July 3.
They have also identified a number of sites in the city's northside and Redcliffe area where there may have been potential exposure to measles.
Following his exploits at Melbourne's airport, he graced several locations in Brisbane's northside and Redcliffe—the Kippa-Ring Shopping Centre, and Redcliffe Hospital's Emergency Department, to name a few. Here's a full list of the points of potential exposure:
Similarly, health officials have urged those who were at these hotspots during the listed time frames, or those who could have possibly crossed paths with our traveller, to be on the lookout for symptoms until July 21, approximately seven to 18 days post possible exposure.
Just a refresher on the symptoms of measles: they start with a fever accompanied by a runny nose, a cough and conjunctivitis.
A telltale rash then appears after three to four days. It generally begins on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said, 'People who are planning to travel overseas should ensure they have received appropriate vaccinations, including MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine if they don't have a history of two previous MMR vaccinations.'
He also recommended that those who have visited any of the exposure sites should stay alert for symptoms and seek medical attention if they feel unwell.
Queensland Health has also swung into action, urging residents born in 1966 or after, who have not received two documented doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, to visit their doctor for a measles jab if they’ve never had the illness before.
So, readers, it's essential to arm ourselves with the required vaccines and stay updated on our health.
With the buzz around COVID-19, this measles case serves as a reminder that there are more health issues to be aware of. After all, when it comes to public health, there's no such thing as too much vigilance!
What are your thoughts on the recent measles alert in Melbourne and Brisbane? Are you concerned about the potential outbreak and the importance of vaccinations in preventing the spread of contagious diseases?
Health authorities in Victoria and Queensland are on high alert, thanks to a traveller who hopped between the states while being infected with measles.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. Image from Flickr
The traveller in question journeyed by taking Qantas flight QF40 from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Melbourne on Sunday, July 2.
They then continued their travel on flight QF610 from Melbourne to Brisbane, departing at 9:50 am on the subsequent day.
During their transit, the passenger moved through Melbourne Airport's international terminal (T2) and Qantas domestic terminal (T1) at Tullamarine on Monday, July 3, between 6:20 am and 9:50 am.
Victorian health authorities are strongly encouraging passengers who travelled through the airport within the stated time frame to be on the lookout for symptoms.
The Queensland government has also issued a measles alert for Brisbane's domestic airport from noon to 1 pm on July 3.
They have also identified a number of sites in the city's northside and Redcliffe area where there may have been potential exposure to measles.
Following his exploits at Melbourne's airport, he graced several locations in Brisbane's northside and Redcliffe—the Kippa-Ring Shopping Centre, and Redcliffe Hospital's Emergency Department, to name a few. Here's a full list of the points of potential exposure:
Similarly, health officials have urged those who were at these hotspots during the listed time frames, or those who could have possibly crossed paths with our traveller, to be on the lookout for symptoms until July 21, approximately seven to 18 days post possible exposure.
Just a refresher on the symptoms of measles: they start with a fever accompanied by a runny nose, a cough and conjunctivitis.
It is characterised by a distinctive rash, high fever, and a range of flu-like symptoms. Image by cdc from unsplash
A telltale rash then appears after three to four days. It generally begins on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said, 'People who are planning to travel overseas should ensure they have received appropriate vaccinations, including MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine if they don't have a history of two previous MMR vaccinations.'
He also recommended that those who have visited any of the exposure sites should stay alert for symptoms and seek medical attention if they feel unwell.
Queensland Health has also swung into action, urging residents born in 1966 or after, who have not received two documented doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, to visit their doctor for a measles jab if they’ve never had the illness before.
So, readers, it's essential to arm ourselves with the required vaccines and stay updated on our health.
With the buzz around COVID-19, this measles case serves as a reminder that there are more health issues to be aware of. After all, when it comes to public health, there's no such thing as too much vigilance!
What are your thoughts on the recent measles alert in Melbourne and Brisbane? Are you concerned about the potential outbreak and the importance of vaccinations in preventing the spread of contagious diseases?
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