Measles case in Adelaide metropolitan region

15 July 2011

The Communicable Disease Control Branch (CDCB) has been notified of a case of measles in an unvaccinated man from metropolitan Adelaide. The infection was acquired overseas.

During the infectious period, the case travelled on Emirates flight EK 406 departing Dubai at 10.10 am and arriving in Melbourne at 5.35 am on 8 July, where he cleared Customs and Immigration. He then travelled from Melbourne to Adelaide on Virgin Blue flight DJ 213 on Friday 8 July leaving Melbourne at 8.05 am and arriving in Adelaide at 9.05 am. He remained at home until the afternoon of Thursday 14 July when he visited a General Practice surgery.

Staff at the General Practice are contacting persons who may have been exposed to the case to provide information and advice on prevention measures. A media release with information and advice about prevention measures has been issued, as measles is highly contagious. Please be aware that secondary cases may present from now onwards.

Doctors are asked to urgently notify any patient suspected to have measles to the CDCB. Telephone: 1300 232 272 (24 hours, seven days)

Suspected cases

For all suspected cases of measles:

• Arrange urgent laboratory testing through SA pathology, including measles-specific IgM and IgG (clotted serum tube) for confirmation of the diagnosis. Also send blood in an anti-coagulated (full blood count) tube, a throat swab in viral transport medium, and if possible, urine in a yellow top container. Store all at 4 degrees Celsius.
• Isolate suspected and confirmed measles cases and exclude from child-care/school/workplace for at least four days after the appearance of the rash.
• Ensure that all household and other contacts are protected against measles as indicated in the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th edition pages 209 to 211.

Minimising transmission

Minimise transmission of measles in the surgery by:

• Examine patients suspected of having measles in their own homes wherever possible.
• Have the suspected case avoid using the waiting room and conduct the consultation in a room that can be left vacant for at least two hours afterwards.
• Treat all people who attend the rooms within 2 hours of the infectious patient as contacts.
• Maintain surveillance for more cases in your practice.

Review the vaccination status of all persons born after or during 1966 who attend your practice for any reason, and offer MMR vaccination to all susceptible people. Routine free vaccine is provided for children aged 12 months and four years.

Incubation period and symptoms

Measles is a highly infectious acute viral illness transmitted by aerosol spread. The incubation period is about 10 days (range seven to 18 days) to onset of prodromal symptoms and about 14 days to the appearance of the rash. The infectious period is from five days before the appearance of the rash until four days after the appearance of the rash. The illness is characterised by cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, a descending morbilliform rash, and fever present at the time of rash onset.

Enquiries

For all enquires please contact the CDCB on 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days)