A dangerous and contagious virus is spreading in Australia after the illness was detected in a passenger on an Emirates flight at Melbourne airport, just days after it was detected in Sydney.
Victoria Health confirmed the infected passenger arrived in Melbourne on February 14 at 10.50pm from Dubai, traveling on Emirates flight EK408.
The Melbourne International Terminal is now listed as a public exposure location for the highly contagious disease on February 14 and 15 from 10:50 p.m. to 12:20 a.m., and the domestic terminal is listed for February 15 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: 35.
“Anyone who attended a listed exposure location during the specified date and time should monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if symptoms develop,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker said.
‘Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical attention. Wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated from others.
A dangerous and contagious virus is spreading in Australia after the illness was detected in a passenger on an Emirates flight at Melbourne airport, just days after being detected in Sydney
“Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose and general malaise, followed by a red maculopapular rash,” Victoria Health said.
The case comes days after the virus was detected in a Jetstar passenger flying to Sydney from the Gold Coast.
NSW Health said the traveler had recently returned to Australia from Southeast Asia, where a measles outbreak has affected several countries.
The adult boarded Jetstar flight JQ427 to Sydney from the Gold Coast on February 7, arriving at 10.15pm.
The passenger passed through Sydney Domestic Terminal 2 between 10:15 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
On February 10, the passenger took bus route 288 from Sussex St at Erskine St in the city to Lane Cove Interchange stop C from 9.30am to 10am
The person then visited Thai Chiva Therapeutic Massage in Lane Cove between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Satang Thai Take Away Restaurant in Haymarket between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Measles is a contagious viral disease that causes a rash and fever.
It can also cause serious health complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
The vaccine-preventable disease is spread through the air when someone who is contagious coughs or sneezes.
The vaccine-preventable disease is transmitted through the air when someone who is contagious coughs or sneezes (file image)
“Any person born during or after 1966 who does not have documented evidence of having received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or who does not have documented evidence of immunity, is at risk of contracting measles,” Dr. Looker said.
‘Unvaccinated babies are at especially high risk of contracting measles.
“Infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of serious complications from measles.”
“Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose and general malaise, followed by a red maculopapular rash,” Victoria Health said.
The rash usually starts on the face before spreading over the body, and symptoms can develop seven to 18 days after exposure.
People with measles are potentially infectious from 24 hours before initial symptoms appear until four days after the rash appears.