Measles outbreak at top public high school grows as SA Health opens vaccination clinic
Four students have now tested positive after one returned from overseas.
Health authorities are racing to contain a measles outbreak linked to an Adelaide high school after three more students contracted the highly contagious virus.
Four students from Brighton Secondary School have now tested positive, prompting SA Health to establish a pop-up vaccination clinic and warn people who may have visited a string of exposure sites across Adelaide.
WATCH ABOVE: Four students fall ill from measles after teenager returns from overseas
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Three additional students from the same school have since contracted the virus.
SA Health says the teenagers were infectious while out in the community, triggering concerns about further spread.
Seven exposure sites have now been listed, including Brighton Secondary School, Kmart at Westfield Marion, Morphett Vale Stadium and Costco.
Former chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said anyone who may have visited an exposure site should closely monitor for symptoms.
“What we want you to do if you’ve been in those spaces at that time is to monitor yourself for symptoms and, if you don’t believe you’ve had two doses of measles vaccine, go and get yourself a dose,” she said.
Health Minister Blair Boyer said vaccinations remain free through the state’s immunisation program.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated for measles, there is a state-funded vaccination program which makes that vaccination free,” he said.
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases and spreads through coughs and sneezes. The virus can linger in the air for up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left an area.
Symptoms include fever, cough, a runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy red rash that typically starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed is being urged to watch for symptoms and seek medical advice if they become unwell.
The vaccination clinic will remain open until 6pm on Friday with health authorities prepared to establish additional pop-up sites if demand increases.
Originally published on 7NEWS
