Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=101596
Measles fear in wake of Thai tragedy
8th October 2008, 6:00 WST
Hundreds of people in Perth may have been exposed to measles after coming into contact with a Year 11 Winthrop Baptist College student caught in a lightning strike in Thailand who has since been found to have the highly infectious virus.
The Health Department issued a warning yesterday to about 130 people who were on the same flights as 11 students when they returned to Perth last week after the freak accident which saw teacher Greg Crombie and trainee youth worker Thomas McGuinness killed by lightning on September 27.
More than 600 people who attended Mr McGuinness? funeral last Friday have also been warned they may have been exposed to measles, which can cause complications, including pneumonia in one in 25 cases and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in one in 2000 cases.
Measles is spread when a person breathes in the virus that has been coughed or sneezed into the air by an infectious person.
The department said babies, unimmunised pregnant women and people with poor immune systems were most at risk and might need treatment with immunoglobulin to prevent infection or lessen its severity.
Medical co-ordinator of communicable disease control Paul Effler said the department was trying to contact the passengers on Royal Brunei Airways flights BI516, which left Thailand on September 30, and BI76, which left Brunei on October 1. The department was particularly concerned because six infants were known to be on the flights.
Dr Effler said the plane passengers and people at the funeral service who were unlikely to be immune to measles were at risk because measles was contagious for up to five days before a rash developed.
People were considered immune if they had received two doses of the measles mumps rubella vaccine, or were born before 1966.
?People who develop a fever and cough or runny nose in the next few weeks should stay at home and promptly consult their GP,? he said.
?The patient should mention their possible contact with measles when they call so they can be isolated when they arrive at the surgery and prevent the potential spread of measles to other patients.?
Measles is rare in WA because of childhood vaccination, with only six cases so far this year. Dr Effler said some people wrongly regarded measles as a harmless childhood illness but the complications could be very serious.
People who think they might be at risk should phone 9431 0200 or 1800 022 222.
CATHY O?LEARY MEDICAL EDITOR
Measles fear in wake of Thai tragedy
8th October 2008, 6:00 WST
Hundreds of people in Perth may have been exposed to measles after coming into contact with a Year 11 Winthrop Baptist College student caught in a lightning strike in Thailand who has since been found to have the highly infectious virus.
The Health Department issued a warning yesterday to about 130 people who were on the same flights as 11 students when they returned to Perth last week after the freak accident which saw teacher Greg Crombie and trainee youth worker Thomas McGuinness killed by lightning on September 27.
More than 600 people who attended Mr McGuinness? funeral last Friday have also been warned they may have been exposed to measles, which can cause complications, including pneumonia in one in 25 cases and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in one in 2000 cases.
Measles is spread when a person breathes in the virus that has been coughed or sneezed into the air by an infectious person.
The department said babies, unimmunised pregnant women and people with poor immune systems were most at risk and might need treatment with immunoglobulin to prevent infection or lessen its severity.
Medical co-ordinator of communicable disease control Paul Effler said the department was trying to contact the passengers on Royal Brunei Airways flights BI516, which left Thailand on September 30, and BI76, which left Brunei on October 1. The department was particularly concerned because six infants were known to be on the flights.
Dr Effler said the plane passengers and people at the funeral service who were unlikely to be immune to measles were at risk because measles was contagious for up to five days before a rash developed.
People were considered immune if they had received two doses of the measles mumps rubella vaccine, or were born before 1966.
?People who develop a fever and cough or runny nose in the next few weeks should stay at home and promptly consult their GP,? he said.
?The patient should mention their possible contact with measles when they call so they can be isolated when they arrive at the surgery and prevent the potential spread of measles to other patients.?
Measles is rare in WA because of childhood vaccination, with only six cases so far this year. Dr Effler said some people wrongly regarded measles as a harmless childhood illness but the complications could be very serious.
People who think they might be at risk should phone 9431 0200 or 1800 022 222.
CATHY O?LEARY MEDICAL EDITOR