Latest news with #Weeramanthri
7NEWS
29-04-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Victoria records highest measles case numbers in a decade amid outbreak
While people often brush off measles as just a common illness, it's now at its highest level in a decade in one Australian state. So far this year, 23 cases have been recorded in Victoria, and that's more than the total number detected in all of 2024. The latest case prompted another health alert from the Victorian Department of Health on Monday, after a returned traveller from Pakistan tested positive. The returned traveller flew into Melbourne from Dubai on Emirates flight EK408 last Thursday (April 24), with several locations now identified as public exposure sites. These sites include Melbourne Airport, Westfield Fountain Gate, ALDI Kilmore, Coles Kilmore, Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre, Kilmore Library and Pet Stock Kilmore. Victorian Department of Health urges anyone who visited these locations to monitor for symptoms, which can develop between seven to 18 days after exposure. Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore or red eyes, and feeling generally unwell. It is then followed by a red, blotchy rash that typically starts on the face before spreading down the body. 'There is currently an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, with a number of public exposure sites identified,' said Tarun Weeramanthri, the department's chief health officer. He said an increasing number of infections are now being acquired locally in Victoria. Emergency physician Stephen Parnis told Nine's Today program this is the first time in a decade that local transmission of measles has occurred. Weeramanthri warned measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation (encephalitis). While vaccination is key to protection, coverage in Australia has dropped below the 95 per cent national target since the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others,' Weeramanthri said. 'Check if you're protected against measles today.' 'If you haven't had two doses, or you don't know, visit your GP or pharmacy for a catch-up MMR vaccine.' The MMR vaccine is free for all Victorians.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Victoria records worst measles outbreak in a decade
Victoria is seeing its worst measles outbreak in a decade, as the global outbreak continues to penetrate Australian borders. Victorian health authorities issued a warning on Monday, with a list of exposure sites that include the Melbourne international airport, a Westfield, Coles, Aldi and a pet store. 'A growing number of measles cases have acquired their infection locally in Victoria,' the state's chief health officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, said. 'There is currently an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, with a number of public exposure sites identified. 'There is also an ongoing risk of measles being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from overseas or interstate.' Victoria has now recorded 23 measles cases this year, surpassing the 2024 total. This comes after similar outbreaks in NSW and Western Australia. Southern and southeast Asia, eastern Europe and the US have been experiencing outbreaks in recent months, with cases in the thousands. A person infected with measles who recently travelled through Pakistan arrived in Melbourne on an Emirates flight on April 24, Dr Weeramanthri said in a statement on Monday. The Department of Health also posted a string of 'exposure sites' in and around the town of Kilmore, which is about 60km north of Melbourne, plus a potential exposure window at Tullamarine Airport. Anyone in around these sites needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks: International arrivals, terminal 2, between 8.35am to 10.10am on April 20, ALDI Kilmore between 2pm and 3pm on April 21. The library, Coles and Petstock in Kilmore on the afternoon of April 22 are also exposure sites. The infected person then went to the Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 3pm and 4pm on April 23. Anyone on Vietnam Airlines flight VN781 from Ho Chi Minh to Melbourne that landed on the morning of April 20 also needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks. People who visited Fountain Gate Westfield on the afternoons of April 10 and April 12 should look for symptoms too. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, a runny nose, fatigue, followed by a red rash. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads. 'Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation,' Dr Weeramanthri said 'The majority of recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine.' The vaccine is free for all Victorians.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dire measles outbreak hits major state
Victoria is seeing its worst measles outbreak in a decade, as the global outbreak continues to penetrate Australian borders. Victorian health authorities issued a warning on Monday, with a list of exposure sites that include the Melbourne international airport, a Westfield, Coles, Aldi and a pet store. 'A growing number of measles cases have acquired their infection locally in Victoria,' the state's chief health officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, said. 'There is currently an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, with a number of public exposure sites identified. 'There is also an ongoing risk of measles being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from overseas or interstate.' Victoria has now recorded 23 measles cases this year, surpassing the 2024 total. This comes after similar outbreaks in NSW and Western Australia. Southern and southeast Asia, eastern Europe and the US have been experiencing outbreaks in recent months, with cases in the thousands. A person infected with measles who recently travelled through Pakistan arrived in Melbourne on an Emirates flight on April 24, Dr Weeramanthri said in a statement on Monday. The Department of Health also posted a string of 'exposure sites' in and around the town of Kilmore, which is about 60km north of Melbourne, plus a potential exposure window at Tullamarine Airport. Anyone in around these sites needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks: International arrivals, terminal 2, between 8.35am to 10.10am on April 20, ALDI Kilmore between 2pm and 3pm on April 21. The library, Coles and Petstock in Kilmore on the afternoon of April 22 are also exposure sites. The infected person then went to the Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 3pm and 4pm on April 23. Anyone on Vietnam Airlines flight VN781 from Ho Chi Minh to Melbourne that landed on the morning of April 20 also needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks. People who visited Fountain Gate Westfield on the afternoons of April 10 and April 12 should look for symptoms too. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, a runny nose, fatigue, followed by a red rash. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads. 'Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation,' Dr Weeramanthri said 'The majority of recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine.' The vaccine is free for all Victorians.
Herald Sun
28-04-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
Victoria records worst measles outbreak in a decade
Don't miss out on the headlines from Health. Followed categories will be added to My News. Victoria is seeing its worst measles outbreak in a decade, as the global outbreak continues to penetrate Australian borders. Victorian health authorities issued a warning on Monday, with a list of exposure sites that include the Melbourne international airport, a Westfield, Coles, Aldi and a pet store. 'A growing number of measles cases have acquired their infection locally in Victoria,' the state's chief health officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, said. 'There is currently an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, with a number of public exposure sites identified. 'There is also an ongoing risk of measles being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from overseas or interstate.' Victoria has now recorded 23 measles cases this year, surpassing the 2024 total. This comes after similar outbreaks in NSW and Western Australia. Southern and southeast Asia, eastern Europe and the US have been experiencing outbreaks in recent months, with cases in the thousands. A person infected with measles who recently travelled through Pakistan arrived in Melbourne on an Emirates flight on April 24, Dr Weeramanthri said in a statement on Monday. The Department of Health also posted a string of 'exposure sites' in and around the town of Kilmore, which is about 60km north of Melbourne, plus a potential exposure window at Tullamarine Airport. Anyone in around these sites needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks: International arrivals, terminal 2, between 8.35am to 10.10am on April 20, ALDI Kilmore between 2pm and 3pm on April 21. The library, Coles and Petstock in Kilmore on the afternoon of April 22 are also exposure sites. The infected person then went to the Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 3pm and 4pm on April 23. Anyone on Vietnam Airlines flight VN781 from Ho Chi Minh to Melbourne that landed on the morning of April 20 also needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks. People who visited Fountain Gate Westfield on the afternoons of April 10 and April 12 should look for symptoms too. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, a runny nose, fatigue, followed by a red rash. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads. 'Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation,' Dr Weeramanthri said 'The majority of recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine.' The vaccine is free for all Victorians. Originally published as Victoria records worst measles outbreak in a decade
West Australian
28-04-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Victoria records worst measles outbreak in a decade
Victoria is seeing its worst measles outbreak in a decade, as the global outbreak continues to penetrate Australian borders. Victorian health authorities issued a warning on Monday, with a list of exposure sites that include the Melbourne international airport, a Westfield, Coles, Aldi and a pet store. 'A growing number of measles cases have acquired their infection locally in Victoria,' the state's chief health officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, said. 'There is currently an increased risk of measles in the greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, with a number of public exposure sites identified. 'There is also an ongoing risk of measles being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from overseas or interstate.' Victoria has now recorded 23 measles cases this year, surpassing the 2024 total. This comes after similar outbreaks in NSW and Western Australia. Southern and southeast Asia, eastern Europe and the US have been experiencing outbreaks in recent months, with cases in the thousands. A person infected with measles who recently travelled through Pakistan arrived in Melbourne on an Emirates flight on April 24, Dr Weeramanthri said in a statement on Monday. The Department of Health also posted a string of 'exposure sites' in and around the town of Kilmore, which is about 60km north of Melbourne, plus a potential exposure window at Tullamarine Airport. Anyone in around these sites needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks: International arrivals, terminal 2, between 8.35am to 10.10am on April 20, ALDI Kilmore between 2pm and 3pm on April 21. The library, Coles and Petstock in Kilmore on the afternoon of April 22 are also exposure sites. The infected person then went to the Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 3pm and 4pm on April 23. Anyone on Vietnam Airlines flight VN781 from Ho Chi Minh to Melbourne that landed on the morning of April 20 also needs to monitor for symptoms for two weeks. People who visited Fountain Gate Westfield on the afternoons of April 10 and April 12 should look for symptoms too. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, a runny nose, fatigue, followed by a red rash. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads. 'Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation,' Dr Weeramanthri said 'The majority of recent cases have arisen in people who have not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine.' The vaccine is free for all Victorians.
