Queensland Health is encouraging school-leavers and their families to make sure they are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases before travelling overseas for schoolies celebrations this year.
Overseas measles outbreaks, including those in Southeast Asia, have led to a rise in measles cases reported in returned travellers to Australia.
Taking necessary precautions will help prevent contracting and passing on highly infectious diseases to friends, family, and the wider community – particularly vulnerable people such as the elderly and young children.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said travellers are reminded to check their vaccination status and ensure vaccinations are up to date before heading overseas to avoid bringing home unwanted, infectious souvenirs.
“Overseas travel can expose you to serious diseases typically not seen in Australia, but many of these are easily preventable through vaccination,” Dr McDougall said.
“There are ongoing measles outbreaks in several destinations popular with Australian travellers, such as Indonesia (including Bali), Vietnam, Thailand, and Philippines, which has led to a spike in imported cases across the country.
“Measles is a highly infectious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people. Vaccination is your best protection against measles.
“To date this year, Queensland has recorded 25 cases of measles and 11 of these were acquired overseas, mostly in Southeast Asia.
“The remaining 14 locally acquired cases all had direct links to overseas or interstate travellers.”
The median age of measles cases in Queensland is 26 years, with ages ranging from 1 to 56 years.
Dr McDougall encouraged all travellers to visit their GP, pharmacy, community immunisation service or a travel clinic at least six weeks before departure to check their vaccination status, particularly for measles.
“No one wants to bring home an infectious disease. A quick visit to your doctor or other immunisation service provider now can help you stay healthy while you celebrate,” Dr McDougall said.
“In addition to talking to your doctor or other immunisation provider about vaccinations, you can also ask about any other relevant health advice for your trip.
“The Smartraveller website is a good source for the latest health alerts relevant to your destination.
“Keeping safe from vaccine-preventable disease is a key consideration when travelling but also be aware of other health risks such as mosquito borne disease.
“Avoid mosquito bites to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue or malaria. You can protect yourself by regularly applying insect repellent and wearing light-coloured, loose fitting long-sleeved clothing and enclosed footwear, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.”
Every year, mosquito-borne diseases affect hundreds of travellers, with 340 dengue cases, 143 malaria cases, nine chikungunya cases, and two Zika cases reported so far this year in Queensland.
Most cases are linked to travel to or from Southeast Asia and Pacific Island countries.
- Queensland Health recommends people travelling overseas:
visit the Smartraveller School-Leavers page for up-to-date travel advice - check their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination status and ensure they have two documented doses of MMR vaccine. Vaccination status can be checked by visiting your GP or by checking your immunisation record via myGov
- ask their GP, pharmacist or travel clinic about other vaccinations relevant to their travel destination
- organise travel insurance
- ensure accommodation is free of mosquitoes – close window screens and utilise indoor insect sprays
- take steps to avoid mosquito bites – make sure you take insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus and some light-coloured, loose fitting long-sleeved clothing and enclosed footwear
- pack a basic medical kit including items such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, bandaids, alcohol based sanitiser/anti-bacterial wipes, antiseptic cream, and any prescription medications you are taking
- consider a sexual health check up before and after you travel and be prepared by taking condoms and water-based lubricant with you to help prevent sexually transmissible infections or unintended pregnancies.
Further information on what to consider before travelling overseas is available on the Queensland Health Newsroom page.