Health authorities fear a severe outbreak of measles in Queensland amid concerns much of the population has not received a second vital dose of the vaccine.
Forty-one cases of the potentially-deadly virus have been reported in the state this year, compared with a total of 52 cases recorded in 2013.
In the past five years, only 12 measles cases have been reported on average in Queensland in the first six months of the year.
The senior director of the Queensland Health Communicable Disease Unit, Sonya Bennett, said the rise in cases was related to a number of overseas travellers arriving in the state already infected with the highly-contagious virus.
Of the 41 cases reported in Queensland this year, two cases involve residents who were infected in Papua New Guinea.
“While overseas exposure has been identified in half of these cases, it is worrying to note that half were locally acquired,” Dr Bennett said.
The majority of locally-acquired cases have occurred in people who have come in close contact with other measles carriers.
But the source of the infection is not known for a small number of cases.
“This is concerning because it indicates we may have had measles cases in the community that we are not aware of,” Dr Bennett said.
Twenty-three measles cases have been reported in the Brisbane’s Metro North health district, while six have been recorded in Brisbane’s Metro South, two on the Sunshine Coast, five in the Darling Downs, two on the Gold Coast and one in Cairns.
Queensland Health senior medical officer Dr Heidi Carroll said vaccination was the only defence against measles.
People require two recorded doses of a vaccine containing the measles virus – typically administered as the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine – to be properly immunised.
Children first receive the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine at 12 months of age.
Queensland residents aged in their late 30s and early 40s may not have received the required second dose, because it has not long been included in the state’s child vaccination schedule.
Health authorities are also concerned adults in their 20s may be caught up in the latest outbreak.
“We are concerned that there are a number of people out in the community who are still not properly vaccinated for measles,” Dr Carroll said.
“That’s why we ask people to check their vaccination status.”
The virus does not discriminate, even among healthy young adults, she said.
“It’s one of the most highly contagious diseases we have,” Dr Carroll said.
Measles is spread by tiny droplets through coughing and sneezing.
True measles is a serious viral infection that usually causes a cough, runny nose in its initial stages and then develops a widespread red spotty rash that typically starts on the face and spreads down the rest of the body.
“With that too, you can get very high temperatures, and some people can get even sicker, with ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis,” Dr Carroll said.
Symptoms usually start around 10 days after infection, but sometimes longer.
“Measles isn’t easily treated, because it’s a virus. The treatment is bed-rest and keeping up fluids as required. There’s no treatment, other than prevention,” Dr Carroll said.
“It’s a really nasty illness and that’s why we encourage people to get vaccinated.”
Those who suspect they may have contracted measles are advised visit their GP.
But potential measles carriers should warn medical staff ahead of their appointment so precautions can be taken to prevent the disease spreading to other patients.
For more information on measles visit the Queensland Health website or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).