WA Health is encouraging overseas travellers and fly-in fly-out workers to get vaccinated against measles, following two new recent measles cases.
Last month, a measles alert was issued for three cases of measles detected in the Perth and Pilbara regions. Two additional cases linked to this cluster have recently been identified.
Dr Clare Huppatz, acting Director Communicable Disease Control Directorate, urged community members who are travelling, whether for overseas holidays or for work to mine sites within Australia, to check their vaccination status.
"Measles is highly infectious and continues to pose a risk to non-immune people working on mine sites in regional WA," she said.
"However, international travel is still the most likely source of measles."
People aged between 30 and 60 years are most at risk as they are less likely to have been fully vaccinated or previously exposed to measles.
"This is why I encourage anyone aged between 30 and 60 years, whether you are travelling for work or holidays, to check you are vaccinated against measles."
The measles vaccine is free to anyone born after 1965, offers a high level of protection against the disease, and prevents spread in the community.
"See your doctor or pharmacist for a free measles vaccine - if you are unsure whether you were fully vaccinated with two doses in the past, now is a good time to get another dose."
The WA Health measles alert has been updated to include the latest exposure sites, including affected flights between Perth and Bali, Indonesia. Anyone who was on the flights or at the locations during the listed dates and times should stay alert for symptoms.
Early symptoms include fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a red non-itchy rash three to four days later. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles usually feel very unwell.
Anyone who is concerned they (or a loved one) may have measles should seek medical care, including contacting Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
They should call ahead to their GP or emergency department and mention they might have measles before presenting there, to minimise the chance of spreading the infection to others.
