Mareeba measles alert after sixth case

A LEADING Far North public health official has again urged residents to get vaccinated after the sixth confirmed case of measles in the region.

Tropical Public Health Services Cairns director Richard Gair said the latest case in Mareeba was transmitted locally and not imported from overseas. In addition, the patient could have known another person with the disease last week in the same town.

“Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to man,” Dr Gair said.

The latest patient visited the Coles supermarket in the town between 9am and noon on Friday last week and health authorities are worried more people will be infected through close contact.

“Symptoms would start 10 days after exposure,” Dr Gair said.

They include fever, lethargy, a runny nose, a moist cough, sore red eyes and a blotchy red rash.

Those without immunity and pregnant women are at high risk.

“The only way we can stop transmission locally is to be vaccinated,” Dr Gair said.

Dr Gair said some parts of the Far North, including the Tablelands, had low immunisation rates and he warned there could be an outbreak “in significant numbers” within these areas.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted measles is urged to call their GP or hospital ahead of time so they can be seen straight away.

“What we’ll find is somebody sitting in a waiting room for half an hour or an hour and in that period they’re very infectious,” Dr Gair said.

Anyone born after 1965, who has not had two documented doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or had proven measles, is encouraged to visit their local doctor to be vaccinated for free.

For more information about measles, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).