Two M’sians exposed to measles case found to be healthy

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has contacted the two passengers exposed to a measles case on board Malaysia Airlines flights recently and they were found to be healthy and did not show any symptoms, says Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Health director-general said this was done after the New Zealand Health Ministry notified the Malaysian Health Ministry on April 20 of a measles case involving a passenger on board Flight MH781 from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and Flight MH133 from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland on April 14.

“The New Zealand Health Ministry had alerted the ministry regarding two Malaysians returning to Malaysia on April 21 who were in contact with the measles case.

“They have been advised to get treatment if they have symptoms,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement yesterday.

He said the ministry’s public health response was initiated to ensure passengers on board the same flights are contact-traced and given health education.

“The passenger is suspected to have been infected in Bangkok and rashes appeared on April 14 during the flight,” he said, adding that the passenger also transited at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for 10 hours before boarding the flight to New Zealand.

Measles infection in adults is usually mild and they are protected if they are vaccinated but children are prone to measles infections and can have a severe form of the disease, particularly if they are not vaccinated against it.

“Complications of measles include pneumonia and encephalitis which may be fatal if not treated,” Dr Noor Hisham said, adding that in Malaysia, measles immunisation (Measles-Mumps-Rubella or MMR) is given at nine months and 12 months old.

“Immunisation coverage of 95% in the community will induce herd immunity, thus preventing children from being infected with measles virus.”