Health | SSM monitoring measles in Taiwan, no case reported in Macau

The Health Bureau (SSM) informed in a statement that, in cooperation with Taiwanese health authorities, it is closely monitoring two reported outbreaks of measles among Tigerair Taiwan’s cabin crew staff.

According to Taiwanese officials, the infected crew members were on board four flights between Taiwan and Macau during the disease’s incubation period, as well as other flights on which local residents may have travelled. As such, local health authorities have been alerted.

The SSM informed that it has contacted 67 of the 108 passengers travelling on the affected flights, and proceeded with the urgent vaccination of eight of these residents. Nevertheless, health authorities say that at present, it has not received any reports of any suspected or confirmed cases of measles.

The SSM also noted that through the services records, it was also possible to verify that most of the residents travelling in the at-risk flights had either been vaccinated previously or had a clinical record of a previous measles infection, which is why the possibility of a disease outbreak is currently considered low.

Residents are advised to be attentive to any possible changes in their physical condition over the next three weeks. In particular, residents should pay attention to symptoms associated with measles such as fever, cough, conjunctivitis, runny nose and skin rashes, and report to health authorities immediately if any of these symptoms occur.
In addition, the SSM is also following the cases of two people in Taiwan who contracted the disease and had been in Macau before the first appearance of symptoms.

Preliminary information revealed that between March 17 and 18, one patient had travelled to Macau via a Tigerair flight, but no information is available on the second patient yet.
Measles is an acute transmissible respiratory tract disease caused by the measles virus. Transmission occurs mostly through saliva droplets but may also be transmitted by contact with other bodily secretions and contaminated objects.

In general, the incubation period is between seven to 18 days, in some cases reaching 21 days.
The transmission period varies from three days to one week after the appearance of characteristic skin rashes.
It is a highly contagious disease which is very common in children during periods of low vaccination coverage.

There is no specific treatment for the condition, and in most cases the side-effects are moderate, especially in regions with good levels of nutrition, hygiene and health care. Serious cases of the disease are rare. RM