SA measles outbreak puts spotlight on falling vaccination rates
Three South Australian teenagers have tested positive for measles, prompting the government to open a pop-up vaccine clinic.
SA Health has been notified of three measles cases among South Australian teenagers, linked to a case reported last week.
The latest outbreak takes the total number of measles cases in SA this year to eight. SA recorded seven cases last year.
SA Health’s Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier told ABC Radio this morning that 93.3 per cent of South Australians were vaccinated against measles, but that vaccination rates have been declining each year.
“There are some people who have decided not to vaccinate their kids, and those people need to think, ‘Should I actually be making that decision?’” she said.
“One case of measles in an unvaccinated community will spread that to approximately 14 other people. They then would spread it to 14 other people. All those people would spread it to 14 other people, each one of them.”
This afternoon, the City of Holdfast Bay Council is holding a clinic for the school community at Brighton Secondary School, inviting people to get vaccinated or a second dose if needed.
The teenagers were also at several other locations while infectious. People who were in these settings at the specified times may have been exposed and are therefore at risk of contracting measles.
- Kmart Westfield Marion, 297 Diagonal and Sturt Roads, Oaklands Park, on Monday 21 September from 3:15 pm to 7:00 pm and on Friday 18 September from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
- Morphett Vale Stadium, Sports Park Drive, Morphett Vale, on Saturday 19 September from 2:40 pm to 5:00 pm.
- El Mexicano Restaurant, 144A King William Road, Hyde Park, on Thursday 17 September from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
- St Louis Café, 185 King William Road, Hyde Park, on Thursday 17 September from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
- Costco Wholesale Adelaide, 404-406 Churchill Road, Kilburn, on Thursday 17 September from 1:30 pm to 3:15 pm.
- Costco Petrol Station, 404-406 Churchill Road, Kilburn, on Thursday 17 September from 2:45 pm to 3:35 pm.
Spurrier said the number of potential exposure sites was concerning because measles can remain infectious in enclosed spaces after an infected person has left.
“Even if the person’s left the shopping centre, if they’re in an enclosed area, it’s infectious there for 30 minutes after they’ve left. It is a lot of people, and that’s why we’ve got quite broad times for people to look at,” she said.
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne infection that can cause severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, an infection and inflammation of the brain.
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“It is a day — 24 hours — before you actually get any symptoms, and that’s why it also spreads easily, ’cause you don’t even know that you’ve got it,” Spurrier said.
Symptoms begin with fever, cough, a runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash that usually starts on the head before spreading down the body.
SA Health has urged anyone who suspects they have measles to phone their doctor before visiting and explain the reason for the appointment, so they can take precautions to prevent the disease from spreading to others.
“The one person that really cares about you, and your health, and your family’s health, is your local GP, or, indeed, your local pharmacist… Make a time and see those people and get the right information,” Spurrier said.
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