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Rare, highly contagious disease strikes city
By Clair Weaver
January 13, 2008 01:00am
<!-- END Story Toolbar --><!-- Lead Content Panel -->THE rare, highly contagious disease rubella has resurfaced in Sydney, prompting an official warning for women planning to fall pregnant to be immunised.
At least four babies from Sydney's northern beaches and north-western suburbs have been infected with the virus in recent weeks.
Rubella, also known as German measles, causes complications such asmiscarriage and birth defects in asmany as 90 per cent of cases.
Doctors, who have rarely encountered rubella since widespread vaccination was introduced 30 years ago, have beensurprised by the cluster.
Health experts are encouraging women to have blood tests, to find out if they need a booster vaccine, before becoming pregnant.
Emma Barr, of Dee Why, took her11-month-old daughter, Lili, toadoctor after she developed arash and fever.
"We'd been down to the beach, so we thought it might be heat rash. But then it spread all over her body," Ms Barr said.
"The doctor knew straight away it was German measles, because Lili was the fourth case to come in within a couple of days."
NSW Health director of communicable diseases Dr Jeremy McAnulty said only nine cases of rubella had been reported last year.
"The reason it is so important from a public-health perspective is that it's a real problem for pregnant women," he said. "The major health concerns are for unborn babies.
"Ninety per cent of women infected with rubella in the first three months of pregnancy will have complications. They may include heart defects, deafness, brain damage and blindness."
Rubella is not a serious illness for the general population, but Dr McAnulty said it was critical to prevent it spreading to expectant mothers.
The parents of infected children have been advised to quarantine them while they are contagious.
All four rubella victims had been inclose contact before the breakout.
None was old enough for the first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, recommended at 12 months and again at four years.:tiphat: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23044750-421,00.html
By Clair Weaver
January 13, 2008 01:00am
<!-- END Story Toolbar --><!-- Lead Content Panel -->THE rare, highly contagious disease rubella has resurfaced in Sydney, prompting an official warning for women planning to fall pregnant to be immunised.
At least four babies from Sydney's northern beaches and north-western suburbs have been infected with the virus in recent weeks.
Rubella, also known as German measles, causes complications such asmiscarriage and birth defects in asmany as 90 per cent of cases.
Doctors, who have rarely encountered rubella since widespread vaccination was introduced 30 years ago, have beensurprised by the cluster.
Health experts are encouraging women to have blood tests, to find out if they need a booster vaccine, before becoming pregnant.
Emma Barr, of Dee Why, took her11-month-old daughter, Lili, toadoctor after she developed arash and fever.
"We'd been down to the beach, so we thought it might be heat rash. But then it spread all over her body," Ms Barr said.
"The doctor knew straight away it was German measles, because Lili was the fourth case to come in within a couple of days."
NSW Health director of communicable diseases Dr Jeremy McAnulty said only nine cases of rubella had been reported last year.
"The reason it is so important from a public-health perspective is that it's a real problem for pregnant women," he said. "The major health concerns are for unborn babies.
"Ninety per cent of women infected with rubella in the first three months of pregnancy will have complications. They may include heart defects, deafness, brain damage and blindness."
Rubella is not a serious illness for the general population, but Dr McAnulty said it was critical to prevent it spreading to expectant mothers.
The parents of infected children have been advised to quarantine them while they are contagious.
All four rubella victims had been inclose contact before the breakout.
None was old enough for the first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, recommended at 12 months and again at four years.:tiphat: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23044750-421,00.html