Health alert as traveller inflected with measles visits urgent care clinic in Perth’s south

Sixty confirmed cases of measles have been identified in Western Australia this year; The last of these cases was seen in a traveler returning from abroad.

WA Health issued an alert on Tuesday that another case of the highly infectious disease had been identified in the State, with two exposure sites in Beeliar.

Both of the approved locations were visited on Saturday, December 27.

Anyone who visits Beeliar Hive Pharmacy between 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. or Lagoon Medical Center/Beeliar Medicare Urgent Care Clinic between 8:15 and 11 a.m. should monitor for symptoms for seven to 18 days after exposure.

Symptoms of measles include fever, fatigue, runny nose, red eyes and cough, followed by a distinctive red rash a few days later.

Health experts are urging Australians to make sure their vaccinations are up to date before leaving the country.

Infectious diseases professor Allen Cheng said less than half of the cases recorded in Australia were from overseas travel, with the remainder locally acquired often linked to secondary exposure.

“So someone came from abroad and passed it on to someone local, which shows that most of the cases originate from abroad,” he said.

“My advice to adults is: If you’re going abroad, make sure you’re up to date on vaccines and everything else, not just measles.

“See your doctor before you go and take some time before you go abroad, not the day before.”

For more information go to: HealthyWA.