Brisbane health officials have issued an alert for residents to be vigilant for symptoms of measles. This warning follows the confirmation of a two-year-old boy testing positive for the highly infectious disease.
The child, whose positive result was reported on Monday, had visited the pediatric emergency department at The Prince Charles Hospital on multiple occasions last week, during which he would have been infectious. According to the Metro North Health Unit, there are multiple potential exposure sites linked to this case, including the Brisbane Airport domestic terminal and The Star Brisbane, where a QUT graduation ceremony was held on December 10.
Dr. Megan Young from the Metro North Health Unit urged individuals who frequented those sites to check their immunity status against measles. “Measles is one of the most infectious of all communicable diseases and is spread by tiny droplets through coughing and sneezing,” she cautioned, underlining the risk posed by unvaccinated individuals.
Symptoms typically develop about 10 days after contact with someone infected, but can emerge anywhere between 7 and 18 days. Dr. Young remarked, “Vaccinations are recommended for anyone born during or since 1966, who has not had two documented doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or had proven measles.” The MMR vaccine is accessible through general practices, select pharmacies, and community immunization clinics operated by Brisbane City Council and Logan City Council.
Those exhibiting measles-like symptoms within the next three weeks are advised to stay at home and contact their general practitioner for guidance. Dr. Young described initial symptoms, stating, “The initial symptoms of measles include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore and red eyes. This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash.” She elaborated on the rash, noting it often begins on the face before becoming widespread throughout the body.
It is noteworthy to mention the array of locations the child visited prior to being diagnosed, contributing to the alert's urgency. The boy traveled on Flight TG346 from Lahore to Bangkok between December 7 and 8, then took Flight TG461 from Bangkok to Melbourne on December 8. On the same day, he was present at the Melbourne International Airport from 9 PM to 10 PM before flying to Brisbane on Flight JQ562.
His itinerary continued with visits to the Brisbane Domestic Airport on December 9, as well as emergency care at The Prince Charles Hospital. Exposure also occurred on Tuesday, December 10, during the aforementioned QUT ceremony, which ran from 4:40 PM to 10 PM.
Following these events, the boy was also at the Nundah Family Practice and Lumus Imaging on December 12, before returning to The Prince Charles Hospital's pediatric emergency department during the early hours following December 13.
This incident marks the second measles alert within Brisbane over the past few weeks, following another alert issued on the Sunshine Coast. The risk of measles remains high, particularly among those who are deemed at risk—specifically, anyone born after 1965 who is unvaccinated, has never had measles, or who is immunocompromised. Dr. Young reiterated the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing the need for community awareness.
Measles, long recognized as a common childhood illness, saw declining cases after the implementation of national vaccination programs starting from the mid-1970s. The introduction of a two-dose vaccination scheme at the end of 1992 led to significant reductions, with most Australian children receiving their first doses by their first birthday.
Under Australia's National Immunisation Program, the vaccine is free for children at 12 and 18 months and also available at no charge for adults under 20 or those entering the country on humanitarian grounds. Brisbane City Council is also providing free vaccinations at selected pharmacies, GP offices, and community health clinics.
Importantly, vaccination is not recommended for individuals who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have experienced allergic reactions to any components of the measles vaccine.
With the resurgence of measles alerts, there is heightened motivation for Brisbane residents to check their vaccination status and take necessary health precautions. Ensuring community immunity remains pivotal to preventing outbreaks.
