Urgent disease warning after international flight
Airport visitors and hospital patients are among the Queenslanders who may have been unknowingly exposed to a highly contagious disease.
Health authorities have issued a measles alert after a confirmed case arrived in Brisbane from overseas while unknowingly infectious.
Queensland Health said a person travelled from Singapore to Brisbane on Friday and spent time at the International Airport.
They later presented at the emergency department of Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Officials say the sites do not pose an ongoing risk, but anyone who was present at the same times should remain vigilant for symptoms for up to three weeks after exposure.
The sites include:
- Singapore Airlines Flight SQ265 (Singapore to Brisbane) Friday, July 17 , from 7:20am- 4:50pm;
- Brisbane International Airport, Friday, July 17 from 4:50pm – 6:45pm; and
- Queensland Children’s Hospital Emergency Department from Friday, July 17 at 7pm until Saturday, July 18 at 2pm.
“Members of the public who were in these areas, on these dates, need to be alert for symptoms of measles for up to three weeks from the exposure date,” the warning said.
“If you have any of the measles symptoms, contact your GP or ED.”
The initial symptoms of measles can include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore red eyes. This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread over the body.
Stay informed, daily
Measles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The measles-mumps-rubella is part of the National Immunisation Program and is free for children at 12 and 18 months of age.
Queensland also has an extend immunisation program for children aged 6 months to less than 12 months, who are travelling to a country where measles is endemic – or where outbreaks are occurring both overseas and in Australia.
It is also available for anyone born during or since 1966 who has not received two doses.
Vaccines are available through GPs and at and participating community pharmacies.
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