Young SA woman contracts measles

A young woman from South Australia has contracted measles, sparking a health alert.

A 22-year-old woman from South Australia has contracted measles.

SA Health has warned people who were in the same locations as the woman since 15 April, including a gym in Adelaide's west, to check for symptoms.

Symptoms start with fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash beginning on the head before spreading to the body.

Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease, which caused more than 2.6 million deaths globally each year prior to widespread vaccination in 1980.

It has sparked a health warning across the state, with SA Health acting director Dr Ann Koehler urging people to check if they are immunised.

"If you were born during or after 1966 and haven't received two measles vaccines, visit your GP or local council immunisation clinic to obtain a measles vaccine," she said.

This is the third cases of measles reported in South Australia this year, compared to two last year.

Just five years ago, the World Health Organisation announced that measles had been eliminated in Australia.


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Source: AAP



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