Clinician Alert - Measles

See Current health alerts Measles alerts for exposure sites. 

• Clinicians should be alert for signs and symptoms of measles, especially in returning overseas travellers or those with potential exposure.

• Suspected measles cases should be tested, advised to isolate, and notified immediately to the local public health unit. 

   

THINK measles 

Suspect measles in any person presenting with: 

• fever and rash (especially maculopapular rash starting on the face)
• recent travel or contact with a confirmed case of measles
• cough or conjunctivitis or koplik spots

Who is most at risk? 

• infants under 12 months who are too young to be vaccinated against measles
• members of the community who are not fully vaccinated
• people with a weakened immune system.

Measles Precautions Checklist 

• Use signage asking patients to call your facility if they have relevant symptoms
• Encourage staff vaccination
• Immediately isolate symptomatic patients and provide them with a mask
• Leave room vacant for 30 minutes after being used to assess potential cases
• Notify your local public health unit immediately of suspected cases

Management 

• Test for measles and isolate patient.
• Notify the pathology service prior to testing for suspected measles.
• Notify the local Public Health Unit immediately on clinical suspicion to allow timely follow up of high risk contacts.
• Provide MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure for non-immune contacts. MMR-containing vaccines are contraindicated in pregnant women. Normal human immunoglobulin (NHIG) may be recommended by public health authorities.

Prevention 

• Anyone born during or since 1966 is recommended to have two documented doses of a measles containing vaccine given at least four weeks apart. These doses are government funded.
• Travellers who are not immune or are unsure of their vaccination history should be vaccinated before their departure from Australia.
• Consider an individual risk assessment for infants aged <12 months,  as vaccination  is recommended and funded for infants from 6 months of age travelling to any region where measles is endemic or where  outbreaks are occurring (in Australia or overseas)

• Measles | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au) - provides clinical guidelines about measles vaccines and recommendations for vaccination

   

Further information 

• Current health alerts Measles alerts
• QH fact sheet Measles (health.qld.gov.au)
• Measles | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au)
• Homepage | Smartraveller