Travelers are being warned to watch for measles symptoms after a new case was detected in a passenger on an international flight to Australia.
The contracted case was reported in Victoria after the person was exposed while traveling on VietJet Air flight VJ083 that arrived in Brisbane on December 4, Victoria’s acting chief health officer Christian McGrath said.
It is the second case detected in Victoria in December after another traveler tested positive in Queensland, having transited through Melbourne airport while infectious.
People who attended Melbourne Airport between 9.24pm and 10.30pm on December 8 and between 5am and 7.25am on December 9 are urged to monitor for symptoms.
These may include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose, and general malaise, followed by a red, bumpy rash.
An infected person was also traced to the Woolworths store at The Links shopping center in Oakleigh South, Friendly Grocer and Pastry Supreme Bakehouse in Bentleigh East on December 19 between 11:27 a.m. and 12:55 p.m.
Anyone who attended any of the exposure sites on the specific dates and times should monitor for symptoms.
The measles case comes as Chief Health Officer Clare Looker revealed wastewater testing detected poliovirus in metropolitan Melbourne.
A case of measles has been recorded in Victoria after a passenger on an international flight was exposed to the disease that first arrived in Brisbane on December 4 (file image)
The case of poliovirus type 2 was detected on December 2 and appears to stem from someone who may have received a vaccine.
“This detection is likely related to someone who received a live polio vaccine overseas and has continued to shed the virus since arriving in Victoria,” Dr Looker said.
“The presence of the virus in wastewater poses no risk to Melbourne residents as wastewater is thoroughly treated.”
Australia uses an inactivated polio vaccine, which prevents the disease from multiplying within the body and cannot cause polio, nor be detected in the intestine or wastewater.
Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause paralysis and death.
Children and adults who have not been fully vaccinated against polio are at increased risk if exposed to an infected person, and the best protection against polio is through immunization, Dr. Looker said.
There has been a rise in measles cases in travelers returning to Australia in recent weeks amid growing outbreaks internationally, including in Vietnam.
Fifteen cases of measles have been reported among Victorians since the beginning of the year.
People who attended Melbourne Airport (pictured) between 9.24pm and 10.30pm on December 8 and between 5am and 7.25am on December 9 are urged to monitor for symptoms .
It comes just after wastewater testing detected poliovirus, a disease that can cause paralysis and death, in metropolitan Melbourne.
Unvaccinated babies are at high risk of contracting the virus, while infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation.
Symptoms can develop up to 18 days after exposure and people are warned to be alert as initial symptoms may be similar to those of COVID-19 or the flu.
People are potentially infectious from 24 hours before experiencing symptoms until four days after the rash appears.
The virus can spread through airborne droplets or contact with secretions from the nose or throat and contaminated surfaces and objects, and can remain in the environment for up to two hours.
Measles outbreaks have been reported in Asia, Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and the United States.