Infection
Two new measles cases prompts fresh alert from NSW Health
Jul
Two new measles cases have prompted a fresh alert from NSW Health on Friday night.
The state authority says both cases are from the same family and they picked up the infection overseas.
However they visited several Sydney locations while infectious, prompting the warning.
While the locations visited do not pose an ongoing risk to people, those in the vicinity during the specified dates and times below are being urged to be on the lookout for symptoms.
Symptoms include fever, sore eyes, and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash which typically spreads from the head and neck to the rest of the body.
People may have been exposed to the cases in these following locations:
- Qatar Airways flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney departing Doha on Thursday 13 July at 8pm, arriving in Sydney on Friday 14 July at 5:10pm.
- Sydney Airport – Terminal 1 International Arrivals (including baggage claim and customs) on the evening of Friday 14 July between 5:10pm and 7pm
- TerryWhite Chemmart Gaslight Rose Bay 484 Old South Head Rd Rose Bay on Saturday 15 July between 11:00am and 11:45am.
- Prince of Wales Hospital Emergency Department on Wednesday 19 July between 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 11.15pm.
- Prince of Wales Hospital Randwick LifeGrain café on Wednesday 19 July from 11.15am to 12pm.
- Prince of Wales Hospital Foyer Pharmacy (Barker St entrance) on Wednesday 19 July from 12.45pm to 1.30pm
- Westpac bank, 49-51 Belmore Rd, Randwick 2031 on Thursday 20 July from 2.15pm to 2.45pm
- Priceline Randwick, 49-51 Belmore Rd, Randwick 2031 on Thursday 20 July from 2.15pm to 3pm
- Blooms the Chemist, Royal Randwick, 26/73 Belmore Rd, Randwick 2031 on Thursday 20 July from 2.30pm to 3.15pm
- Royal Randwick Shopping Centre 73 Belmore Rd, Randwick 2031 on Thursday 20 July from 2pm to 3.15pm
- 7-Eleven Randwick 128 Barker St, Randwick NSW 2031 on Thursday 20 July from 12.30pm to 1.15pm
Dr Anthea Katelaris, Acting Director, South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit, said anyone who was in the same locations as the cases should be alert for signs and symptoms of measles until August 7.
“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it is really important to stay vigilant if you’ve been in the above locations,” Dr Katelaris said in the NSW Health statement.
“If you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP to ensure you do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.”
Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease.
The viral illness causes fever and rashes but can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.
While measles is rare in Australia due to vaccination programs, it remains common in many parts of the world, with large outbreaks currently occurring in a number of locations.
Measles has also been reported in other states in recent weeks.
People returning from recent overseas travel should be alert for symptoms.
