Travellers targeted in measles campaign as Health Minister urges check of immunisation history

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Travellers targeted in measles campaign as Health Minister urges check of immunisation history

By Kate Aubusson
Updated

Unvaccinated travellers who risk spreading measles through the Australian community will be the target of a new federal government education campaign.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has commissioned the independent Australian Academy of Science and top measles experts to design the social media campaign urging Australians to make sure they are fully vaccinated against the highly-infectious disease.

Federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt.

Federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt.Credit: AAP

Australia is on track for its worst measles rate in five years, with 84 confirmed cases so far in 2019, compared to 103 for the whole of 2018 and 81 in 2017.

All cases can be traced back to individuals who contracted the infection from overseas and travelled back to Australia, spending time in public places while they were unknowingly infectious.

"I am concerned about the recent increases in measles cases in Australia and want to make sure our community is well protected against this very serious disease," Mr Hunt said on Monday.

The campaign - including four videos and a measles explainer - will warn travellers about measles hotspots in popular holiday destinations including Thailand and the Philippines.

Measles is particularly dangerous for children.

Measles is particularly dangerous for children.Credit: Shutterstock

In NSW alone, there have been 34 confirmed cases since Christmas, with an unvaccinated international backpacker the latest to be diagnosed.

The man in his 30s caught the disease in a Melbourne hostel, then travelled to several popular tourist locations in Sydney, including the Opera House, before catching the XPT train to Brisbane and staying at a Highgate Hill hostel.

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Previously, two unvaccinated Australian travellers were diagnosed after being exposed to the infection in the Philippines in March.

The cases were particularly concerning, given the travellers spent time in a number of public places in one of Australia’s anti-vaccination strongholds on NSW's north coast.

Australians born between 1966 and 1994 are the main targets of the campaign because they may have only had one dose of the two-dose course of measles vaccinations due to changing immunisation schedules during this time.

Australia’s measles immunisation coverage is high, with 93.5 per cent of two-year-olds fully vaccinated.

But 95 per cent coverage is needed to achieve herd immunity, prevent its spread and protect vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated, including infants under 12 months old and people with compromised immune systems.

"Immunisation saves lives," Mr Hunt said. "The measles vaccine is very effective at protecting lives. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for full protection."

"I urge all Australians to check their measles immunisation history – if you are not sure, talk to your doctor," he said.

The measles vaccine is free to people born during or after 1966.

with AAP

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