A one-year-old child has contracted measles while overseas, which has prompted both South Australian and Victorian health authorities to issue a community alert.
The child travelled from Dubai to Adelaide via Melbourne before presenting at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital Emergency Department on Thursday night.
SA and Victorian health authorities are urging anyone who isn’t fully immunised against measles to be alert for symptoms, especially those who were in the same location as the child.
“Symptoms of measles start with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which usually begins on the head and then spreads down the body,” SA Health said in a statement.
“If you believe you have measles symptoms, contact your doctor before you visit so precautions can be taken to avoid spreading the infection to others.”
Public health exposure sites
The one-year-old was on Emirates Flight EK408 from Dubai to Melbourne on February 14, landing at 10.50pm.
The family was in Melbourne Airport international arrivals, terminal two until 1.20am.
The family came back to terminal one at 1.30pm and departed on flight QF685 to Adelaide on February 15, spending time at Adelaide Airport between 3.45pm and 4.45pm on arrival.
The child was at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Emergency Department on February 15 and 16 between 10pm on Thursday and 4am on Friday.
Anyone who was at those locations is being urged to monitor symptoms.
