News from Australia 11.10.2013

Measles warning for WA's tourists to Bali

• AAP
• OCTOBER 11, 2013 8:24PM

• PRINT

BALI holidaymakers have been warned to watch for measles symptoms after four West Australian travellers contracted the disease in the past week after returning from Indonesia.

The WA Health Department director of communicable disease control Paul Armstrong said people were also potentially exposed to infection at general practice surgeries where the infected cases were seen.
He said other risk areas were pathology collection centres and emergency departments at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Armadale-Kelmscott hospitals.
One case was contracted while working on Barrow Island in the state's north, he said.
Measles is highly infectious and is spread by airborne respiratory droplets.
Symptoms include fever, runny nose, inflamed eyes and a cough, followed by a red blotchy rash.
It is contagious for up to five days before the rash and for four days after it starts.
"Individuals who have returned from Bali or think they may have been exposed, and who develop symptoms of measles should stay away from others and promptly consult their doctor," Dr Armstrong said.
"A person is considered immune to measles if they have received two doses of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine or were born before 1966."
Dr Armstrong said the incident was a reminder of the importance of adults being fully vaccinated against measles and other infectious diseases, especially before travelling overseas.