Adelaide | 24 Jan 2012
SA Health has issued a public health alert about the highly infectious measles virus following a confirmed case in South Australia this week.
SA Health’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr Stephen Christley said the 23-year-old male from metropolitan Adelaide most likely acquired the virus while overseas.
“Measles is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised, and is spread through coughing and sneezing,” Dr Christley said.
“The illness begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a rash which begins on the head and then spreads down the body. Complications of measles can be severe.”
During the infectious period, the man visited the following sites:
- Hyde Park Tavern, 187 King William Road, Hyde Park, on Saturday 14 January from 5 to 8pm
- Euro Explorations Services, 63 King William Street, Kent Town, on Monday 15 and Tuesday the 16 January from 9am to 7pm
- Hughes Clinic, 160 Unley Road, Unley, on Tuesday 17 January from 4:30 to 7:30pm
- Haddad Pharmacy, 160 Unley Road, Unley, on Tuesday 17 January from 5 to 7:30pm
- Foot and Ankle Centre, 22 Walter Street, North Adelaide on Thursday 19 January from 11:30am to 2:30pm
- Jones and Partners Radiology on Level 1, St Andrews Hospital on Thursday 19 January from 1 to 4:30pm
- Hughes Clinic, 160 Unley Road, Unley on Thursday 19 January from 4:30 to 7:30pm
- Hughes Clinic, 160 Unley Road, Unley on Saturday 21 January from 10am to 12:30pm
- Haddad Pharmacy, 160 Unley Road, Unley on Saturday 21 January from 10:30am to 1pm
- Royal Adelaide Hospital Emergency Department on Sunday 22 January from 5 to 7pm
“We are advising anyone who was in these locations during these times to be alert for symptoms over the two weeks after that potential exposure and if they are ill to see a doctor,” Dr Christley said.
“It is very important that people phone their GP ahead of any visit and mention why they are attending, so that precautions can be taken to avoid spreading disease to others.”
An alert has been issued to General Practitioners advising them of this case.
SA Health has contacted the businesses the man visited during the infectious period.
Immunisation provides the best protection against measles. Two doses of measles containing vaccine are strongly recommended for all persons born after 1965.
People in this age group are encouraged to check their vaccination records, and request the vaccine if there is no record of two doses of measles vaccine.
This is the first case of measles reported in South Australia during 2012. Four cases were reported in 2011.
A fact sheet about measles can be found on SA Health’s website www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
