Infected traveller on SIA flight sparks New Zealand measles alert - SQ 281

[feb01mel]

WELLINGTON: New Zealand health authorities were trying to track down hundreds of passengers on Wednesday who may have been exposed to measles on a Singapore Airlines flight at the weekend.

One passenger on the flight, which landed in Auckland on Sunday night, is now known to have been infected with the highly contagious virus.

"The passenger with measles would have been infectious at the time of their travel on this flight," said Auckland Medical Officer of Health Dr Richard Hoskins.

Health authorities were trying to trace 260 passengers on flight SQ281 and estimated they would have since been in close contact with at least another 100 people.

The passenger with measles was a New Zealander returning home.

Hoskins said measles was highly infectious and that 10 per cent of cases required hospital treatment.

Although the disease is now rare in New Zealand, there were two big outbreaks in 2011, both started by people who were infected overseas.

Another outbreak late last year was confined to 11 people who contracted the disease after attending a hip-hop event in Australia.

Measles typically causes a rash, fever and white spots in the mouth.

More serious complications include blindness, pneumonia, brain damage and severe dehydration.

- AFP/ec

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...ia/954852.html

[feb01mel]

Singapore Airlines assisting NZ, S’pore after measles alert


SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) is assisting both New Zealand and Singapore health authorities with contact information of customers who were seated in the vicinity of a passenger who had contracted measles.


SIA said this is for the purpose of contact tracing and further investigations.


The passenger had travelled from Singapore to Auckland on Sunday on flight SQ281 which arrived at night.


A SIA spokesperson said the airline was informed on Tuesday that one of its passengers on that flight had been infected with measles.


The spokesperson added that SIA will provide its full cooperation to the health authorities of both countries.


There were 260 other passengers on board SQ281.


New Zealand’s health authorities estimate that those passengers would have since been in close contact with at least another 100 people.

SIA added that there are no reports of its cabin crew or ground staff being infected.

The crew has been informed to look out for any related symptoms over the next week.


As for disinfecting the aircraft, SIA said the ventilation systems on its aircraft are designed for air to be changed every two or three minutes, which is at a higher rate than that in most buildings.


SIA also uses High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (HEPA) filters in its aircraft ventilation systems.


The filters are similar to those used in critical wards of hospital and clean rooms, and are replaced regularly in compliance with industry regulations.

- CNA/nd

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...es/954940.html

[eminere™]

Oh dear... I can see flow-on effects in Australia, which already has such strict quarantine procedures...

[SQ228]

Oh dear... I can see flow-on effects in Australia, which already has such strict quarantine procedures...

I can't. Our strict quarantine regime is about animals and plants, not people.

[eminere™]

I can't. Our strict quarantine regime is about animals and plants, not people.

I guess that must be why quarantine officers boarded our aircraft after we pulled up to the gate and accompanied an unwell passenger off the plane. Quarantine procedures apply very much to people as well.

http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/quarantine/human

[SQ228]

I guess that must be why quarantine officers boarded our aircraft after we pulled up to the gate and accompanied an unwell passenger off the plane. Quarantine procedures apply very much to people as well.

http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/quarantine/human

Many countries have such procedures in place, and somebody in the most infectious phase of measles may not demonstrate any obvious symptoms or even yet be aware they are infected with anything. There had already been an incident of measles in Australia just prior to the report about the flight to New Zealand, so clearly it can get through.