Latest news with #WAHealth
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Qantas, mining staff in measles outbreak
An isolated West Australian mining town is experiencing a suspected outbreak of one of the world's most contagious diseases after a miner and a Qantas flight staff member were diagnosed with the illness. It's understood the initial case developed in a miner who had been working at the BHP mine site in Newman, an outback WA mining town, in early July. BHP confirmed it was monitoring another staff member, still at the site, who had developed a confirmed case of measles and several others who were isolating as a precaution because they were presenting symptoms. 'Our health and safety team has implemented precautionary measures for the wellbeing of our workforce and the community,' a BHP spokesman told Perth Now. It's understood the person harbouring the initial case of measles had flown on Qantas Flight QF1705 from Newman to Perth on June 23 before making their way back to Newman on flight QF1708 on July 2. A Qantas spokesman confirmed to Perth Now that one of the flight crew contracted measles after a flight in early July. 'We advised WA health of our team member's positive diagnosis and conducted contact tracing internally to identify other staff who may have been in contact with the impacted crew member,' he said. The crew member is isolating, and no further symptoms are present. The WA Department of Health has advised anybody who 'visited an exposure location' during the indicated dates and times to pay attention to any possible symptom developments for 'between 7 to 18 days'. 'Persons who have received two measles vaccinations and those born before 1966 are considered immune to measles. On rare occasions, vaccinated individuals may develop a mild illness,' the department said. 'Anyone who has travelled overseas or attended any of the above listed areas, and are not immune to measles, are at risk of developing measles. Those presenting signs and symptoms of measles should be tested.'
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Health officials scramble to contain outbreak of contagious disease after Qantas staff member tested positive
An outbreak of one of the world's most contagious diseases, measles, has popped up in regional Western Australia with a Qantas flight attendant now infected. A worker believed to be 'patient zero' from the BHP mine in Newman, a remote mining town in the state's Pilbara region, came down with the illness after flying on Qantas Flight QF1708 from Perth on July 2. BHP confirmed a second worker, who remains at the job site, caught the disease and several others are now isolating with symptoms. 'Our health and safety team has implemented precautionary measures for the wellbeing of our workforce and the community,' a BHP spokesman said. Authorities are working to identify the original case of measles. That person had flown on QF1705 from Newman to Perth on June 23 before heading back to Newman on flight QF1708 on July 2. A Qantas spokesperson confirmed a member of the flight crew had also contracted measles following a flight from Perth to Port Hedland and back on July 3. 'We advised WA health of our team member's positive diagnosis and conducted contact tracing internally to identify other staff who may have been in contact with the impacted crew member,' he said. The Qantas worker is quarantining and no further symptoms were detected. The WA Department of Health urged anyone who 'visited an exposure location ' during a string of specific dates to monitor their symptoms. Signs of measles typically take seven to 18 days to develop while those born before 1966 and those with two vaccinations are generally considered immune. Symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis. A rash typically appears about three to five days after symptoms first show up. In severe cases, measles can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and can even be fatal. There is no specific cure and people are urged to get vaccinated.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Measles confirmed in Newman miner and Qantas staff member
An isolated West Australian mining town is experiencing a suspected outbreak of one of the world's most contagious diseases after a miner and a Qantas flight staff member were diagnosed with the illness. It's understood the initial case developed in a miner who had been working at the BHP mine site in Newman, an outback WA mining town, in early July. BHP confirmed it was monitoring another staff member, still at the site, who had developed a confirmed case of measles and several others who were isolating as a precaution because they were presenting symptoms. 'Our health and safety team has implemented precautionary measures for the wellbeing of our workforce and the community,' a BHP spokesman told Perth Now. It's understood the person harbouring the initial case of measles had flown on Qantas Flight QF1705 from Newman to Perth on June 23 before making their way back to Newman on flight QF1708 on July 2. A Qantas spokesman confirmed to Perth Now that one of the flight crew contracted measles after a flight in early July. 'We advised WA health of our team member's positive diagnosis and conducted contact tracing internally to identify other staff who may have been in contact with the impacted crew member,' he said. The crew member is isolating, and no further symptoms are present. The WA Department of Health has advised anybody who 'visited an exposure location ' during the indicated dates and times to pay attention to any possible symptom developments for 'between 7 to 18 days'. 'Persons who have received two measles vaccinations and those born before 1966 are considered immune to measles. On rare occasions, vaccinated individuals may develop a mild illness,' the department said. 'Anyone who has travelled overseas or attended any of the above listed areas, and are not immune to measles, are at risk of developing measles. Those presenting signs and symptoms of measles should be tested.'
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Urgent measles warning as new cases detected in WA
A measles warning has been issued by WA Health after two locally acquired cases travelled on flights between Perth and the Pilbara, in the state's north. WA's total caseload for the year has reached 23. The two latest cases travelled between Perth, Port Hedland and Newman. They visited locations between June 23 and July 8, including Perth Airport and Crown Casino. It comes as WA Health authorities on Friday issued a notice about undetected cases of measles in the state. 'The latest (Friday) case had no recent interstate or overseas travel history or known sick contacts, indicating that there have been undetected cases of measles in WA,' Communicable Diseases Control Directorate director Paul Armstrong said after a locally acquired case was announced on Friday. 'Measles can spread very quickly and anyone who is not immune is at risk of developing the disease if they are exposed.' Anyone who attended the exposure locations during the dates and times listed is urged to monitor for symptoms. A full list is available at Measles can spread through airborne droplets and usually develop around 10 days after exposure. Early symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, with a red, non-itchy rash emerging three or four days later. WA Health says the rash typically starts on a person's face, spreading to the rest of the body. Measles can lead to serious health complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. The highly infectious virus is particularly dangerous for babies under 12 months, as they are too young to be fully vaccinated. Measles was declared to have been eradicated from Australia in 2014. While there have been small, contained outbreaks in the years since, a disturbing trend is now emerging, with cases rising steadily since 2021, the last time there was zero cases reported in Australia. In 2022, there were seven, 26 were reported in 2023, and in 2024 there were 57.
West Australian
14-07-2025
- Health
- West Australian
WA Health issues fresh warning after two measles cases visited Perth and Pilbara including Crown Casino
WA Health have issued a fresh warning after two locally acquired measles cases travelled on flights between Perth and the Pilbara. It brings WA's total caseload for the year to 23. The infectious people travelled between Perth, Port Hedland and Newman, visiting several locations between June 23 and July 8 including the Crown casino and Perth Airport. The warning comes after WA Health authorities issued a notice on Friday, believing there had been undetected cases of measles in WA. 'The latest case had no recent interstate or overseas travel history or known sick contacts, indicating that there have been undetected cases of measles in WA,' Communicable Diseases Control Directorate director Paul Armstrong said after a confirmed locally acquired case on Friday. 'Measles can spread very quickly and anyone who is not immune is at risk of developing the disease if they are exposed.' Measles is a highly infectious virus which can spread via airborne droplets and usually develops 10 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a florid red non-itchy rash three or four days later. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Anyone who is concerned they or a loved one may have measles should seek medical care. They should call ahead to their GP or emergency department to prevent the chance of spreading the infection to others. Anyone who is not immune and attended the exposure sites during the listed dates and times should monitor for symptoms from seven to 18 days after attending that location. People with two doses of the measles vaccination and those born before 1966 are considered immune to measles. Healthdirect 1800 022 222 Tuesday 8/07/2025, 2.00pm to 2.45pm, BP Mindarie, 360 Anchorage Drive North, Mindarie Monday 7/07/2025, 11.30am to 12.20pm, Perth Airport, Terminal 3/4 Miller Road, Perth Airport WA 6105 Monday 7/07/2025, 9.30am to 11.30am, Qantas flight QF1705, Newman to Perth Monday 7/07/2025, 9.25am to 10.00am, Newman Airport Ruland Circuit, Newman WA 6753 Friday 4/07/2025, 11.45am to 3.30am, Epicurean Restaurant and Crown Perth precinct (including atrium area and casino) Friday 4/07/2025, 6.00am to 6.45am, Shell Smart Mart Newman 1 Newman Drive, Newman WA 6753 Thursday 3/07/2025, 1:15pm to 2:10pm, Perth Airport, Domestic Terminal 3/4 (Qantas) Thursday 3/07/2025, 10.25am to 1.20pm, Qantas flight QF1643, Port Hedland to Perth Thursday 3/07/2025, 7.10am to 9.30am, Qantas flight QF1642, Perth to Port Hedland Thursday 3/07/2025, 5.45am to 7.30am, Perth Airport, Domestic Terminal 3/4 (Qantas) including boarding gate for QF1642 to Port Hedland Wednesday 2/07/2025, 3:20pm to 4:00pm, Newman Airport Ruland Circuit, Newman WA 6753 Wednesday 2/07/2025, 1:35pm to 3:20pm, Qantas flight QF1708, Perth to Newman Wednesday 2/07/2025, 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Perth Airport, Terminal 3/4 Miller Road, Perth Airport WA 6105 Tuesday 1/07/2025, 2:00pm to 3:00pm, Zambrero Scarborough 148 The Esplanade, Scarborough WA 6019 Tuesday 1/07/2025, 12:00pm to 2:30pm, Revo Fitness Scarborough 241 West Coast Highway, Scarborough WA 6019 Tuesday 1/07/2025, 11:00am to 12:30pm, Coles Scarborough Corner West Coast Highway and Scarborough Beach Road, Scarborough WA 6019. Monday 23/06/2025, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Perth Airport, Domestic Terminal 3/4 (Qantas) Monday 23/06/2025, 9.00am to 12.00pm, Qantas flight QF1705, Newman to Perth
