Remaining measles challenges in Australia.

Abstract

Measles is now rare in Australia, and cases can usually be linked to its importation from endemic countries. To prevent measles outbreaks in Australia, high vaccination coverage with two doses of vaccine must be sustained. All medical practitioners should consider a diagnosis of measles in a patient of any age who presents with fever and a non-vesiculating, non-itchy rash. If measles is suspected clinically, public health authorities should be immediately notified, so that testing and management of patients can be discussed and contact tracing initiated. When a patient is suspected of having measles, testing of a serum sample for measles-specific IgM and IgG antibodies should be requested urgently. Pathology laboratories should have effective protocols for immediately reporting positive measles-specific IgM antibody tests, or other results indicative of measles, to public health authorities.