The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit at the Department of Health has been notified of 2 confirmed cases of measles in Melbourne. Both cases occurred in overseas travellers.

Please refer to the DOH Alert: Measles Alert for General Practitioners

Their infectious period commenced on 29th January and 01st of February 2010. Secondary cases could start to occur now. Children or adults born during or since 1966 who do not have documented evidence of receiving 2 doses of a measles containing vaccine or documented evidence of laboratory confirmed measles are considered to be highly susceptible to measles.

The public health definition for suspected measles is an illness characterised by: morbilliform rash, cough and fever present at the time of rash onset.

For further advice call the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit on 1300 651 160