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Measles transmission in healthcare settings in Australia

Heath A Kelly, Michaela A Riddell and Ross M Andrews
Med J Aust 2002; 176 (2): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04278.x
Published online: 21 January 2002

In a recent issue of the Journal, Blake and colleagues described a cluster of three cases of measles from western Sydney.1 The index patient acquired measles overseas, while the other two patients acquired the infection during a hospital visit and probably in the waiting room of a general practice, respectively. Measles is highly contagious and can spread with relative ease in healthcare settings, especially if there is a failure to diagnose the infection, to isolate the infectious patient or to notify the case so that other infection control measures can be implemented.


  • 1 Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, VIC.
  • 2 Department of Human Services, Victoria, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: heath.kelly@mh.org.au

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