Measles warning for WA's tourists to Bali

West Australians visiting Bali have been warned about measles after four people were diagnosed with the illness in the past week after returning home.

Bali holidaymakers have been warned to watch for measles symptoms after four West Australian travellers contracted the disease in the past week after returning from Indonesia.

The WA Health Department director of communicable disease control Paul Armstrong said people were also potentially exposed to infection at general practice surgeries where the infected cases were seen.

He said other risk areas were pathology collection centres and emergency departments at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Armadale-Kelmscott hospitals.

One case was contracted while working on Barrow Island in the state's north, he said.

Measles is highly infectious and is spread by airborne respiratory droplets.

Symptoms include fever, runny nose, inflamed eyes and a cough, followed by a red blotchy rash.

It is contagious for up to five days before the rash and for four days after it starts.

"Individuals who have returned from Bali or think they may have been exposed, and who develop symptoms of measles should stay away from others and promptly consult their doctor," Dr Armstrong said.

"A person is considered immune to measles if they have received two doses of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine or were born before 1966."

Dr Armstrong said the incident was a reminder of the importance of adults being fully vaccinated against measles and other infectious diseases, especially before travelling overseas.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world