Perth Christmas carol event on measles alert after infected person attended

Health authorities announced that a person with measles attended a Christmas carol event and was contagious.

The person returned to Perth on Emirates flight EK420 from Dubai at around 5.40pm on 9 December and attended Voiceworks Songs in the Park at Shenton Park the following day.

The person also visited various shopping areas and major retail outlets in Whitfords, Claremont and Karrinyup between 10 and 17 December.

This is the 58th case of measles confirmed in Western Australia this year.

Health officials said the virus can take seven to 18 days to develop after exposure.

A Department of Health spokesperson said measles is highly contagious and can spread to nearby people through airborne droplets.

“Airborne droplets can still infect people who enter a room for up to 30 minutes after an infected person leaves the room,” they said.

The spokesperson said people should watch for fever, fatigue, runny nose, cough or painful eye redness, as well as a red splotchy rash that appears after about three or four days.

“It usually starts on the face before spreading throughout the body; the rash can last four to seven days,” a spokesman said.

“People who get measles often feel very unwell, and some may be hospitalized.

“Complications may include pneumonia and, less commonly, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

“People who have been previously vaccinated can still develop measles, but the infection is usually milder and does not last as long.

“People with measles are contagious (can transmit the virus to others) from one day before the onset of symptoms to four days after the rash appears.”

Officials asked anyone with symptoms to contact a doctor or emergency room by phone to report a possible measles infection.