Measles alert issued for metropolitan Melbourne after infectious woman visited Australian Grand Prix

Urgent measles alert issued after infected woman visited Formula One Grand Prix and a busy supermarket

  • Health authorities have released an urgent measles for metropolitan Melbourne 
  • Infected woman, who is in her 40s, contracted illness in the Northern Territory 
  • Health authorities said she may have been infectious when attending Grand Prix

Health authorities have released an urgent measles alert after an infected person visited a number of public events in Melbourne including the Australian Grand Prix.

The infected woman, who is in her 40s, contracted the illness in the Northern Territory where there is currently an outbreak of measles.

Victorian authorities said the woman may have been infectious when she attended public areas across metropolitan Melbourne between March 16 and March 18.

The infected woman, who is in her 40s, contracted the illness in the Northern Territory where there is currently an outbreak of measles (stock image)

Thousands of Formula 1 fans streamed through the gates of Albert Park last weekend for the Grand Prix and could have come into contact with the highly infectious illness.

The woman visited the Jones Stand, gate two entrance and food areas at gate one on the Saturday.

She returned to the event the following day and attended the Fangio Stand and the same gates.  

There are further concerns for members of the public who were at Woolworths in Braybrook, Melbourne’s western suburbs, on Saturday between 12 and 1pm and Monday between 1 and 2pm.

The infected woman is isolated in hospital where she is being treated.

‘Anyone who presents with signs and symptoms compatible with measles should be tested and notified to the department,’ the Victoria health alert said.

Thousands of Formula 1 fans streamed through the gates of Albert Park last weekend for the Grand Prix (pictured) and could have come into contact with the highly infectious illness

Thousands of Formula 1 fans streamed through the gates of Albert Park last weekend for the Grand Prix (pictured) and could have come into contact with the highly infectious illness

‘There should be an especially high index of suspicion if they have attended any of the areas stated above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles.’

Those most at risk of contracting measles are children and adults born during or since 1966 who do not have documented evidence of receiving two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or evidence of immunity.

Measles can persist in the environment for up to two hours and the infectious period of patients with illness is roughly five days before, to four days after, the appearance of the rash.

Symptoms include a fever, severe cough, conjunctivitis and coryza, followed by a rash which starts on the face.

There are further concerns for members of the public who were at Woolworths in Braybrook, Melbourne's western suburbs, on Saturday between 12 and 1pm and Monday between 1 and 2pm

There are further concerns for members of the public who were at Woolworths in Braybrook, Melbourne’s western suburbs, on Saturday between 12 and 1pm and Monday between 1 and 2pm

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