Australian Parents warned as measles cases soar
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australian Parents warned as measles cases soar*
June 28, 2008 09:30am
Article from: AAP
CHILDREN not even 12 months old have been infected with measles after
cases increased more than tenfold in New South Wales.
Parents are being urged to have their children immunised against the
disease, which is highly contagious to people who have not been vaccinated.
Three cases diagnosed this month took the total number this year to 38.
Only three cases were diagnosed in NSW in 2007 and they were all exposed
while overseas, NSW Health said.
The department's director of communicable diseases Jeremy McAnulty said
people could not be complacent.
"We are seeing cases in infants less than 12 months of age who are not
yet due for immunisation and cases in young adults who have missed out
on the MMR (measles mumps and rubella) vaccine," he said.
He urged parents to have their children vaccinated when they were 12
months old, with a second dose before they started school - at around
four years old.
Adults up to 42 years of age should have two doses of the MMR vaccine
unless they have already had the measles.
Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, runny nose, coughing and sore
red eyes.
They are followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and
spreads over the body, lasting a few days.
"Measles is one of the most easily spread diseases and just being in the
same room as someone with measles can result in infection," Dr McAnulty
said.