02 February 2008

Measles warning

NSW Health is today warning the community to be on the look out for the symptoms of measles amid concerns of a possible outbreak. Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Director Communicable Diseases for NSW Health, said three children with measles had visited the Children's Hospital at Westmead Emergency Department between January 27 and 31, 2008.

Dr McAnulty said the Sydney West Public Health Unit is contacting people who visited the emergency department during this time to offer vaccinations and advice on the symptoms of infection to be on the look out for.

"The measles virus may now be circulating in the community.

"People who haven't been immunised, especially those living in western Sydney and anyone who attended the emergency department during that period, need to be particularly vigilant as they may have come in to contact with the disease.

"Measles is one of the most easily spread diseases and just being in the same room as someone with measles can result in infection," he said.

Dr McAnulty advises the initial symptoms of measles are:

• fever
• tiredness
• runny nose
• cough
• sore red eyes.

"Symptoms usually begin between around 10 days after contact with an infected person, so now is the time for people to be particularly aware of any signs of infection in themselves or their children.

"Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek advice from their GP.

"We ask that people ring ahead to say that they could have measles and ask to be seated in a separate waiting room to avoid spreading the disease to others," he said.

Dr McAnulty said a red, blotchy rash appears three to four days after initial symptoms. The rash starts on the face and then spreads over the body and will last four to seven days.

He said measles is an acute viral disease that can have serious complications.

"Up to one third of people infected with measles will experience a complication. Complications are more common in young children and in adults," he said.

Complications include ear infections, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and the person may require hospitalisation.

Dr McAnulty said measles is now a rare disease but people born during or after 1966 who have not had two doses of vaccine are more at risk and should be vaccinated with the MMR (Measles Mumps and Rubella) vaccine.

Babies less than 12 months of age are at particular risk because they are usually not immunised until one year of age.

Many people in their 20s and 30s will not be immune, so its particularly important they check their status and get a shot from their local doctor if not sure.

Parents should ensure that their children are vaccinated on time.

"Immunisation is the best protection against measles. Children should be vaccinated with MMR at 12 months and again when they turn four years old," he said.

Related links:

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au