PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Issued by the Communicable Disease Control Branch of the Department of Health
Date 30/03/99

This notice is for the attention of all doctors

Measles in Victoria

There is a measles outbreak in Victoria affecting primarily young adults. So far 54 cases have occurred. Nineteen have been hospitalised.

The outbreak started with a young adult just returned from Bali.

Susceptible people are likely to be young adults (aged 18–30 years) and children aged less than twelve months. However any person aged under 30 years without documented history of at least one measles immunisation should be considered at high risk.

The current NHMRC recommendation is that all persons should have 2 immunisations with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine by age 5 years: the first aged 12 months and the second aged 4 to 5 years. Children less than 12 months of age ordinarily cannot be protected by immunisation against measles.

For people planning overseas travel remember to check immunisation status not only for exotic diseases but also for the diseases routinely covered in the Australian childhood immunisation schedule.

Encourage all persons aged less than 30 years to complete the 2 dose course of MMR immunisation. It is safe to immunise any person with pre-existing immunity to any of measles, mumps or rubella. Free vaccine is provided only for children aged 12 months and aged 4 to 5 years.

Please notify all suspected cases by phone immediately at any time, 7 days a week, to the Communicable Disease Control Branch (Telephone: (08) 8226-7177) so that contacts can be identified and receive active immunisation and/or immunoglobulin. The Communicable Disease Control Branch will also facilitate sero- and virological diagnosis.

Contact name Dr Rod Givney
Contact telephone no. (08) 8226-7177