Watch out! Measles is about

Measles outbreaks in New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga have resulted in an increase in measles cases in South East Queensland, and an outbreak among the Pacific Islander community in the Metro South and Logan area, with 19 confirmed cases as of the 30 October.

Health professionals and members of the public throughout the Metro North area should urgently ensure they are immune to measles.

This means:

• identifying vaccination records that include two measles-containing vaccines at least 4 weeks apart, with the first dose at 12 months of age or older, OR
• identifying a positive measles IgG on serum testing, OR
• being born before 1966. Where immunity is uncertain, measles vaccination is recommended unless contraindicated. Infants who are travelling overseas may receive their first MMR from six months of age.

These infants should still receive their scheduled measles-containing vaccines at 12 months and 18 months of age.

Measles symptoms typically begin with a prodrome of cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, fever and Koplik’s spots. A maculopapular rash appears on the face in a few days with fever of at least 38 degrees with the rash becoming generalised in the next 3–4 days. Keep suspicions high at the prodromal stage while highly infectious and please notify Metro North Public Health Unit on suspicion by calling 07 3624 1111.

A video produced by Metro South Hospital and Health Service in the context of the current outbreak is available here.