People in Melbourne’s south and outer east have been warned to look out for signs of measles after a man was diagnosed with the highly contagious virus.
While infected with measles, a man in his 40s visited places in Melbourne’s south and outer east between February 8 and 12 while infectious, said Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton.
Locations the man visited include:
- Thursday, February 8
Centrelink Dandenong, 8am-5pm
- Friday, February 9
Centrelink Dandenong, 8am-5pm;
Mountain Gate Cricket Club, Ferntree Gully, 6-8pm
Dan Murphy’s Rowville, 8.30pm
- Saturday, February 10
Fairhills High School basketball stadium, Knoxfield, 9.30-10.30am
Rowville Secondary College basketball stadium, Rowville, 2.30-3.30pm
- Sunday, February 11
Belgrave Cricket Ground, 11.30am-6.30pm
- Monday, February 12
ABC Costume Hire, Wantirna South, 3-4pm
People who were in the above areas may be at risk of developing measles and should be weary of symptoms.
Measles have an incubation period of between seven to 18 days, meaning symptoms take a while to show up. People in visiting these areas may not see symptoms until Tuesday, March 6.
Dr Sutton said people who developed the illness over the next week should alert their doctor or hospital emergency department.
“Anyone developing symptoms is advised to ring ahead to their general practitioner or hospital first and tell them that they may have measles so that appropriate steps can be taken to avoid contact with other patients,” he said.
Signs and symptoms of the measles
The most distinctive symptom of the measles is a rash which often starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Other symptoms of the measles can resemble those of the common cold.
fever
general discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing (malaise)
runny nose
dry cough
sore and red eyes (conjunctivitis)
red and bluish spots inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)
red and blotchy skin rash that appears first on the face and hairline, and then spreads to the body
If you, or someone you know, is showing symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately.
