A print friendly PDF version is available from this Communicable Diseases Intelligence issue's table of contents.

In the face of a continuing rise of reported measles cases among young adults in Victoria, the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia New Zealand (CDNANZ) have called on all Australians aged 18 to 30 to check their vaccination status.

The measles outbreak was first reported in the western suburbs of Victoria several weeks ago and has now spread to involve young adults in the northern and eastern suburbs and border areas.

Everyone should be protected against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases by vaccination. The recent successful primary schools campaign appears to be protecting children in that age group.

Statistics at 23 March 1999:

• 41 cases of measles have been reported to Victorian Health authorities.
• the index case was a young adult who had returned from Bali.
• 90 per cent of cases are between 17 and 27 years of age.
• 2 cases are in the 30 to 34 age group.
• 1 case is a 10 months old child - below the recommended age for routine immunisation at 12 months of age.
• 1 case is an unimmunised 8 year old boy.
• 40 per cent of cases have been admitted to hospital.

This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 23, No 3, 18 March 1999.