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A dangerous and contagious virus is spreading in Australia after the disease was detected in a passenger on an Emirates flight at Melbourne Airport, just days after it was detected in Sydney.
Victoria Health confirmed the infected passenger arrived in Melbourne on February 14 at 10.50pm from Dubai, travelling on Emirates flight EK408.
The Melbourne International terminal is now listed as a public exposure site for the highly-contagious disease from February 14 and 15 from 10.50pm to 12.20am, and the domestic terminal is listed for February 15 from 1.30pm to 2.35pm.
“Anyone who has attended a listed exposure site during the specified date and time should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop,” Victoria chief health officer Dr Clare Looker said.
“Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical care. Wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated from others.”
The case comes days after the virus was detected in a Jetstar passenger flying into Sydney from the Gold Coast.
NSW Health said the traveller had recently returned to Australia from Southeast Asia, where a measles outbreak has struck several countries.
The adult boarded Jetstar flight JQ427 into Sydney from the Gold Coast on February 7, arriving at 10.15pm.
The passenger went through Sydney Domestic Terminal 2 between 10.15pm and 11pm.
On February 10, the passenger took bus route 288 from Sussex St at Erskine St in the city to Lane Cove Interchange Stand C from 9.30am to 10am.
The person then visited the Thai Chiva Therapeutic Massage at Lane Cove between 10am and 7pm and the Satang Thai Take Away Restaurant at Haymarket between 9pm and 11pm.
Measles is a contagious viral illness that causes rash and fever.
It can also cause serious health complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.
The vaccine preventable disease is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes.
“Anyone born during or since 1966 who does not have documented evidence of having received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or does not have documented evidence of immunity, is at risk of measles,” Dr Looker said.
“Unvaccinated infants are at particularly high risk of contracting measles.
“Young infants, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system are at increased risk of serious complications from measles.”
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose, and feeling generally unwell, followed by a red maculopapular rash,” Victoria Health said.
The rash usually starts on the face before spreading down the body and symptoms can develop between seven to 18 days after exposure.
People with measles are potentially infectious from 24 hours prior to the onset of initial symptoms until four days after the rash appears.
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