Measles case in Adelaide

27 March 2025

SA Health has been notified of a case of measles in an adult who was exposed in Melbourne at a recognised exposure site. This is the second case notified in SA in 2025, with six cases notified in 2024. The case was in the settings below whilst infectious. People in these settings at the specified times may have been exposed:

  • Westminster School sports day, 1-23 Alison Avenue, Marion on Wednesday 26 March from 10:00 am to 11:15 am and 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
  • Glengowrie Medical Centre, 144 Morphett Road, Glengowrie on Monday 24 March from 12 noon to 12:50 pm
  • Clinpath Pathology Seacombe gardens located in Grove Pharmacy, 61 Harbrow Grove, Seacombe Gardens on 24 March from 12:40 pm to 1:15 pm
  • Coles Parkholme, 319 Oaklands Road, Parkholme on Sunday 23 March from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
  • BFT Gym, 880 South Road, Edwardstown on Saturday 22 March from 7:40 am to 9:15 am
  • MASA Martial Arts Success Academy, 961 South Road, Melrose Park on 22 March from 9:00 am to 10:15 am
  • Spendless Shoes, Castle Plaza Shopping Centre, shop G040/992 South Road, Edwardstown on Saturday 22 March from 9:15 am to 9:50 am
  • Drakes Castle Plaza Shopping Centre, 992 South Road, Edwardstown on Saturday 22 March from 9:20 am to 10:00 am
  • Sleeps Hill Tunnel fringe event, The Tunnels, Grandview Crescent, Panorama on Saturday 22 March from 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm
  • One Sneaky Cheetah, 971 South Road, Melrose Park on 22 Saturday March from 6:00 pm to 7:15pm
  • Flight QF693 from Melbourne to Adelaide on Friday 21 March arrived 6:40 pm
  • Adelaide Airport on Friday 21 March from 6:40 pm to 7:30 pm and, including the QANTAS lounge, on Thursday 20 March from 5:00 am to 6:10 am
  • Flight QF670 from Adelaide to Melbourne on Thursday 20 March departed 5:50 am
  • The Fotobase Group, 827 South Road, Clarence Gardens on the 19 March from 7:15 am to 9:15 am and 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted via respiratory aerosols that remain a risk to others for up to 30 minutes after the person has left the area. The incubation period is about 10 days (range 7 to 18 days) to the onset of prodromal symptoms and about 14 days to rash appearance. The rash classically appears 4 days after prodrome onset. The illness is characterised by cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, a descending morbilliform rash, and fever present at the time of rash onset. The infectious period is from 24 hours prior to onset of the prodrome until 4 days after the onset of the rash.

Doctors are to:

  • Offer post exposure prophylaxis to non-immune contacts who have been at exposure sites listed above as per Measles CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units.
  • Notify urgently any patient with suspected measles to the CDCB on 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days). Do not wait for laboratory confirmation.
  • At the time of consultation, take a throat swab in viral transport media (preferred specimen) and urine in a yellow top container both for measles PCR; and measles serology and arrange urgent laboratory testing through SA Pathology. Do not send the patient to a laboratory collection centre.
  • Ensure suspected cases do not use the waiting room, and leave the consultation room vacant for at least 30 minutes after use.
  • Ensure the patient is only seen by practice staff with immunity to measles; wear a correctly fitted particulate filter respirator (i.e. P2/N95) and eye protection.
  • Isolate suspected and confirmed measles cases and exclude from child-care/ school/ workplace for 4 days after rash appearance.
  • Offer measles vaccine (unless contraindicated) to all potentially susceptible persons who attend your practice. See Australian Immunisation Handbook.

For all enquires please contact the CDCB on 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days)
Dr Louise Flood – Medical Lead, Communicable Disease Control Branch