Diagnosing Measles

Key Points

• The Department of Health requires suspected cases of measles to be notified immediately without waiting for laboratory confirmation
• Measles is an urgent, highly contagious, notifiable disease. Secondary infections occur in 75-90% of susceptible household contacts
• Transmission of the measles virus is by respiratory droplets and direct contact with respiratory secretions
• Serological testing and PCR are the mainstays of laboratory diagnosis

Background

Measles is a highly contagious disease with secondary infections occurring in 75 – 90% of susceptible household contacts.¹

With suboptimal vaccination coverage in some areas, measles outbreaks remain an unfortunate reality in Australia.²

A single case therefore has significant public health implications.