Passengers on a flight to Brisbane from Bali have been told to be on alert for symptoms of measles after three people onboard tested positive to the infection.
Queensland Health issued the warning to all passengers aboard Jetstar Airlines flight JQ46, which left Denpasar on October 15 and arrived in Brisbane the next day.
Passengers could expect to experience symptoms to appear between October 23 and November 3, Queensland Health acting senior director of communicable diseases Dr Alun Richards said.
So far this year 59 Queenslanders have contracted measles, having caught it overseas or from someone else who has been overseas.
Dr Richards said measles was highly contagious among people who were not fully immunised.
“Measles is spread through coughing and sneezing, and symptoms can include fever, tiredness, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes which usually last for several days before a red, blotchy rash appears,” he said.
“People usually feel quite ill and are miserable.
“Complications can include an ear infection and diarrhoea [through] to more serious and potentially life-threatening conditions [including] pneumonia or swelling of the brain.”
Dr Richards said people born during or after 1966, who have not received two doses of measles vaccine, were particularly susceptible to measles.
People born before 1966 were usually immune because they were likely to have been exposed to measles during childhood.
Dr Richards said local public health units would contact those who were seated closest to the infected passengers.
However, he said others may have been exposed and should also be alert for the symptoms.
“Passengers who develop these symptoms should phone ahead when seeking medical attention to ensure they don’t share the waiting area with other patients,” Dr Richards said.
He said children should receive two doses of measles vaccine at 12 months and four years of age.
“People planning travel should also check with their GP and have a measles vaccine if they don’t have written evidence of having received the two doses during their lifetime,” Dr Richards said.
Visit the Queensland Health website for more information.