Fear of measles outbreak in mining town
It's understood the initial case developed in a miner who had been working at the BHP mine site in Newman, an outback WA mining town, in early July.
BHP confirmed it was monitoring another staff member, still at the site, who had developed a confirmed case of measles and several others who were isolating as a precaution because they were presenting symptoms. Patient zero took flights within Western Australia in late June and early July. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia
'Our health and safety team has implemented precautionary measures for the wellbeing of our workforce and the community,' a BHP spokesman told Perth Now.
It's understood the person harbouring the initial case of measles had flown on Qantas Flight QF1705 from Newman to Perth on June 23 before making their way back to Newman on flight QF1708 on July 2.
A Qantas spokesman confirmed to Perth Now that one of the flight crew contracted measles after a flight in early July.
'We advised WA health of our team member's positive diagnosis and conducted contact tracing internally to identify other staff who may have been in contact with the impacted crew member,' he said. A Qantas staff member also contracted the illness. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia
The crew member is isolating, and no further symptoms are present.
The WA Department of Health has advised anybody who 'visited an exposure location' during the indicated dates and times to pay attention to any possible symptom developments for 'between 7 to 18 days'.
'Persons who have received two measles vaccinations and those born before 1966 are considered immune to measles. On rare occasions, vaccinated individuals may develop a mild illness,' the department said.
'Anyone who has travelled overseas or attended any of the above listed areas, and are not immune to measles, are at risk of developing measles. Those presenting signs and symptoms of measles should be tested.'
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