Have a listen here, to our own Heidi Robertson, being interviewed by Richard Saunders for the Skeptic Zone podcast, episode #302.
Heidi informs Richard what we have been up to and how we are progressing.
Cheers Richard!
http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/2014/08
Measles alert, Gold Coast.⚠️ MEASLES ALERT ⚠️
The Gold Coast Public Health Unit has been notified of another case of measles on the Gold Coast.
This person arrived at Gold Coast Airport on Saturday, 28 December 2019, at 7.35am from Sydney on flight JQ402 and was diagnosed after arrival.
This person also attended a movie theatre at Coomera Westfield on Monday, 30 December 2019, for a 7.30pm viewing.
People at the airport around the flight time of arrival, and people who attended Coomera Westfield movie theatre around the time of this screening, as well as the public in general, need to be alert for symptoms of measles over the next three weeks.
The initial signs and symptoms of measles include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore red eyes.
This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread over the body.
If you have any of the measles signs or symptoms contact your GP and remember it is very important to call the medical practice first if you think you might have measles, so that staff can take precautions to avoid spreading it to others.
You are generally considered to be immune to measles if:
You were born before 1966; or
You have had two documented doses of a measles containing vaccine (such as MMR); or
You have measles immunity proven on blood testing; or
You have had laboratory-confirmed measles disease.
Anyone who does not meet the above criteria would benefit by contacting a GP regarding immunisation. Vaccination now will not prevent infection from this particular exposure, but it will help protect you in the future. The measles vaccine is provided free for any person born during or since 1966.
More information on the measles virus is available at visit the Queensland Health website or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Sydney- measles. Locations where infectious person went are listed below.We are asking people to be on the lookout for symptoms of measles after a Sydney man in his 20s reported visiting several locations in the inner west, CBD, east and north since becoming infectious on Friday, December 27.
Friday, December 27: he travelled on a 12:30pm bus from Wollongong to Central Station, then took a bus from Central to St Peters.
Saturday, December 28: he travelled by train from Sydenham to Bondi Junction around 10am to 11am. He then took a bus from Bondi Junction to Bondi Beach, arriving around 12pm. After spending the day at Bondi Beach, he then returned home on the same route around 5pm.
Sunday, December 29: he travelled by train from Sydenham Station to Central Station at 11am and then took a train from Central Station to Berowra Station at 12:15pm. He returned on a train from Berowra Station to Central Station at 3pm, then another train from Central Station to Sydenham Station.
Monday, December 30: he went to Marrickville Metro between 3pm and 4pm.
Tuesday, December 31: he went to Marrickville Metro and a GP in Marrickville from around 10:30am to 1:30pm.
There’s no ongoing risk at those places, but please be on the look out for symptoms, which include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.
If you do develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP to ensure you do not wait in the waiting with others.
For more information on measles, please visit: health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/measles/Pages/default.aspx
Finally some good news out of Samoa.
The state of emergency has been lifted after the measles outbreak there has finally been bought under control — by a vaccination drive that has managed to push vaccination rates to nearly 95%.
This outbreak has killed 81 people, most of them babies and young children, and sickened more than 5,600 others.
Vaccines work. Vaccine preventable diseases kill.
www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/29/samoa-ends-measles-state-of-emergency-as-infection-rate-slo...
Samoa ends measles state of emergency as infection rate slows
theguardian.com
Six-week state of emergency is lifted after disease killed 81 people and sickened more than 5,600 ot...“Expectant mothers can pass on the virus to unborn children and rare complications include scarring of the baby, limb deformities and brain damage. Sick children whose immune systems are suppressed are also vulnerable, Professor McCartney said.
"Particularly patients with cancer or others on treatment that will be lowering their immunity," she said.
Six-year-old Matilda Harley is recovering from a recent liver transplant.
Her father, Craig Harley, says common childhood illnesses can be serious in a child with reduced immunity and can cause problems including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.”
Fresh calls for people to vaccinate their children after chickenpox rise in NSW
abc.net.au
Chickenpox is cropping up across New South Wales, prompting fresh warnings for parents to vaccinate ...“Helping people to identify what is reliable information and what is not reliable information is really important.”
'Science isn’t enough': Queensland Health admits vaccine info 'failure'
brisbanetimes.com.au
Queensland Health admits it has failed to do enough to stop the spread of vaccine misinformation in ...