The Chief Health Officer is warning that measles has been brought to Canberra through the ‘World Supremacy Battlegrounds’ Hip Hop dance competition:
“The dance competition is the likely source of infection and ACT Health is aware of other cases across Australia and New Zealand who had also attended the event,” Dr Paul Kelly said.
“We’re advising anyone who attended the dance competition or anyone potentially exposed to the ACT case to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.
“People who may have been exposed to the ACT case include:
— Anyone who attended Calwell High School on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December 2013;
— Anyone who was at the Harem Turkish Restaurant in Kingston from 6.30pm on Thursday 19 December 2013; and
— Anyone who visited the Capital Chemist in Kingston on Friday 20 December 2013 after 4.00pm.
“The symptoms of measles may include fever, tiredness, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, followed by a rash which appears 2-7 days later. People generally develop symptoms 7-18 days after being exposed to a person with infectious measles, with 10 days being more common. People are infectious from 5 days before they develop a rash until 4 days after,” Dr Paul Kelly said.
“Measles is a serious disease and is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised. The virus is spread from an infectious person during coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth.
“I’ve also written to GP’s today encouraging immunisation of those who are susceptible to measles, and seeking the testing and urgent notification of individuals who present with measles symptoms.
[Photo via Wikimedia]
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