Measles outbreak in Europe prompts review of Riverina health systems in place to deal with outside infections

June’s quarterly report set the standard at 95 per cent of 12-month-olds, and 96.5 per cent of five-year-olds.

It is a particularly encouraging result in light of the current break out of measles across Europe.

Rates of infections doubled in the first six months of the year, compared to all of 2017.

Having now reached a two-decade record, health experts are blaming the decline in vaccinations during the same period. 

Measles outbreaks do occur in pockets of the Australian community, and according to the Australian Medical Association, it begins when an unimmunised traveller brings the disease back into their immediate environment.

But, director of public health at Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Tracey Oakman this is unlikely to happen in the Riverina due to a process known as ‘herd immunity’.

“If a sick person comes into contact with an unimmunised person, the virus will spread because it is incredibly contagious, and it can spread far and wide,” Ms Oakman said.

“But if enough people around that sick person are immunised, the infection will end with that one person. It won’t spread any further to infect others.”

In order to eradicate measles through herd immunity, 95 per cent of the population needs to be vaccinated against it. 

Though it is not always a case of simply having the vaccination.

“It’s estimated that anyone born before 1966 would likely have been exposed to the measles virus in some form,” said Ms Oakman.

“Now we know it’s best to have two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination so even those who have been vaccinated may not have had that full dose.

“You’re about 99 per cent immune to it if you have the two. So we’re playing a bit of catch up to keep immunity high.”

Immunisation is only one part of the Riverina’s defense against outbreaks. The other comes through clinician education.

When viruses break out overseas, protocols are in place to manage symptoms domestically.

“Even if it’s not an outbreak, some of these diseases and viruses are unknown in rural and regional areas, so we have a surveillance system in place so that if anyone turns up with something that might be a virus, we can deal with it,” Ms Oakman said.

Emergency departments across the Riverina notifiedwhen there is a high turn-over of travellers to a certain part of the world where a disease is known to cause problems.

“For example, right now in Saudi Arabia the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is happening and since we know the MERS-CoV virus is present over there, we’ve sent an alert to emergency departments to keep a look out for the symptoms.

“There are always systems in place to spot viruses and manage breakouts, and most of the time that does not involve any restrictions to the public.”