Passenger on flight from Thailand triggers measles alert in Australia

SYDNEY: -- Australian health officials on Thursday scrambled to prevent a possible outbreak of measles after an infected passenger was discovered on a flight from Thailand.

Authorities in the eastern state of New South Wales were contacting all 150 passengers who arrived in Sydney on a Thai Airways International flight from Bangkok on Friday after one traveller came down with the disease.

"Measles is a highly infectious virus and can be caught just by being in the same room or area as someone with the disease," said Doctor Andrew Marich, acting director of communicable diseases with the state health department.

Passengers who travelled on flight TG 993 were warned they may have been exposed to the illness and advised they should see a doctor immediately, unless they are fully immunised against measles.

Initial symptoms of the illness include fever, tiredness, runny nose, coughing and sore, red eyes. It can be very dangerous for pregnant women and can cause serious diseases including ear infections and pneumonia.

Three to four days after these set in the patient will develop a red, blotchy rash, starting on the face and then spreading over the body, Marich said.

-- AFP 2006-10-12

Australian health authority workers wearing white coats and masks were on hand at Sydney Airport as the Thai Airways flight landed.

They handed each of the passengers a bottle of spot remover as they disembarked the aircraft.

Crafty lot we Aussies.