AUSTRALIA MEASLES CASE: HEALTH ALERT ISSUED IN VICTORIA; KNOW THE SYMPTOMS AND COMPLICATIONS OF THE INFECTION
Health authorities have issued an urgent alert after a new case of measles was reported in the Australian state of Victoria. The Victorian Department of Health confirmed that the case was identified in a returned overseas traveller, who appeared at multiple public sites in the state with the infection, reported Xinhua news agency.
The infected person arrived at Melbourne International Airport on June 25 from Singapore before visiting Colac, Warrnambool and Port Campbell. The health department said, “There have now been 11 cases of measles reported in Victoria since January 1, 2024.”
Local communities were warned of the potential exposure to measles due to any overseas travel. The health department added, “There should be an especially high level of suspicion if they have travelled overseas or visited any of the sites listed above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.”
Measles is a contagious viral disease that causes fever and a rash. It spreads through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. There isn’t any treatment for the condition, however, the only protection you can take against measles is to take the MMR vaccine.
MMR is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which provides protection against the measles virus. It stimulates the body’s immune system to develop immunity without causing the disease itself. The vaccine offers protection against three serious viral infections; measles, mumps, and rubella.
Symptoms of Measles
The symptoms usually start to appear after 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Here are some of the common signs of measles:- High fever
- Tiredness
- Barky cough
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Runny nose
- Red, blotchy rash that spreads from your face to the rest of your body
- A sore throat
- White spots in your mouth
- Muscle pain
- Sensitivity to light.
Complications of Measles
Here, take a look at some of the complications of measles.- Diarrhoea and vomiting: This can result in too much of fluid loss from the body which can eventually result in dehydration.
- Ear infection: Measles can also result in bacterial ear infection.
- Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup: Mayo Clinic says that measles may lead to irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the airways (croup). It can also lead to inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passageways of the lungs (bronchitis). Measles can also cause inflammation of the voice box (laryngitis).
- Pneumonia: Measles can commonly cause an infection in the lungs (pneumonia). People with weakened immune systems can develop a type of pneumonia that sometimes can lead to death.
- Encephalitis: Reports say that about 1 in 1,000 people with the infection can develop encephalitis. This is a condition where there’s irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain. It can be especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems. Encephalitis may occur right after measles, or it might not occur until months later. Encephalitis can lead to permanent brain damage.
- Pregnancy problems: People who are pregnant need to be extremely careful because if you get infected, it can cause premature birth, low birth weight and foetal death.
(With inputs from IANS)
2024-07-04T03:44:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd
