General News
7 February, 2025
Health alert: measles
AN alert for highly-contagious measles has been issued for people who visited several locations at certain times late last month.
A Tropical Public Health Services spokesman said the locations posed no ongoing risk, but people who were at those places at the following days and times should be aware of measles symptoms.
“Measles is a highly infectious and serious viral infection,” he said.
The locations and times are:
Friday, January 24 2025. Flight Darwin to Cairns. Flight number TL160 (Air North) 7.30am-11.30am, Cairns Airport domestic terminal arrivals 11.30am-noon, multiple venues including The Woolshed Cairns, Dirty Laundry, Gilligan’s 7.30pm-2am
Saturday, January 25. Southside Paintball, Gordonvale 11.40am-2.30pm, multiple venues including The Woolshed Cairns, Dirty Laundry, Gilligan’s 7.30pm-3am
Sunday, January 26. Cairns Kart Hire, Smithfield 10.40am-12.10pm, Salthouse Cairns 7pm- 9pm, Pier Bar 9pm-10pm.
Monday, January 27. Cairns Airport domestic check in/departures 11.30am-12.30pm. Flight Cairns to Darwin Flight TL161 Air North, 1pm-4.30pm.
Measles usually starts as a flu-like illness lasting for between two and four days with symptoms that include fever, tiredness, blotchy rash that spreads from head/face to rest of body, severe cough, red/sore eyes, runny nose, white spots in the mouth
Although the most well-known symptom of measles is a blotchy red rash, this is not usually the first symptom. The symptoms usually start around 10 days after exposure to measles but can occur between seven and 18 days after contact. If people were in these areas at these times, they should look out for symptoms up until February 14.
If people develop symptoms, they should call ahead to your GP or emergency department. They should not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.
Tropical Public Health medical officer Dr Annie Preston-Thomas said this should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles. The measles vaccine can prevent illness even after exposure to the disease, if given early enough. “Please consider seeing a GP to be immunised for measles, if you are not already immune to measles. The vaccine is free for Australian residents,” she said.
For more information visit https://bit.ly/3CActa0
