​NSW Health has issued an alert for patrons of several shopping complexes in the North Western suburbs after an 11 month old infant was diagnosed with measles.

Information related to the other infant mentioned in the alert can be found on the Measles alert - Strathfield, Hurstville and St George Hospital.

The infant, too young to have received their first dose of vaccine, had attended the Eastwood Shopping Plaza on the same day as a recent infectious case. The infant developed measles symptoms between 7-10 days following this exposure. While infectious the infant spent time in a number of locations, detailed in the map and table below.

People in the same locations at the same the as the infant who may be susceptible to measles such as:
  • children under the age of 12 months,
  • people with a weakened immune system (e.g. from cancer therapy or high dose steroid use),
  • those who do not have evidence of having received two doses of measles containing vaccine or past measles infection
should contact their public health unit for advice on 1300 066 055 as preventive injections can be given for up to six days after exposure, for highly susceptible people.
 
Symptoms of measles usually present around 10 days after exposure, but may start as soon as 7 days, and as long as 18 days after exposure. People in the same locations as this infant are advised to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles until 18 April.
The illness begins with a fever, runny nose, cough and/or sore red eyes, followed a few days later by a red, spotty, non itchy rash which usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Infants also commonly experience diarrhoea.
 
More information about measles can be found below, and on the measles webpage.
 
Measles alert - Eastwood, Castle Hill, and Kellyville
Map created using Arc GIS Portal (Sources: Esri, OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA)
 
​Date ​Location
​Saturday 23 March 2019 Eastwood Plaza - including play areas near Woolworths and on the first floor, 152-160 Rowe St Eastwood
Sunday 24​ March 2019 ​Eastwood Plaza - including play areas near Woolworths and on the first floor, 152-160 Rowe St Eastwood
​Tuesday 26 March 2019 ​Castle Mall 4-16 , including play area on the Lower Ground Floor, 4-16 Terminus Street Castle Hill
​Wednesday 27 March 2019

​The North Village, 10-12 Hezlett Road Kellyville

North Village Family Practice, Shop S3 The North Village, between 12:00pm and 1:15 pm

Friday 29 March 2019​

​​Castle Mall 4-16 , including play area on the Lower Ground Floor, 4-16 Terminus Street Castle Hill

The North Village, 10-12 Hezlett Road Kellyville
North Village Family Practice, Shop S3 The North Village, between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm
Saturday 30 March 2019​ ​The North Village, 10-12 Hezlett Road Kellyville
North Village Family Practice, Shop S3 The North Village, between 09:00 am and 12:00 pm
Information related to the Castle Hill Shopping Complex visited by the case was updated following receipt of additional information on 03/04/2019. The Case did NOT attend Castle Towers while infectious.
 
These sites pose no ongoing risk to the public. The local public health unit are working with the medical practice to directly contact patients present at the same time as the infant.
 

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness which is spread easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. The virus can survive in the air for short periods of time, so simply being in the same room as someone with measles can result in infection if you are not immune.

People who are experiencing signs and symptoms of measles should seek medical attention. NSW Health recommends calling ahead to the practice or emergency department to alert of them of your symptoms so that measures can be taken to limit your exposure to others upon your arrival.

Measles is a serious illness, and complications such as diarrhoea, middle ear infection and pneumonia occur in up to one third of cases. Measles encephalitis is swelling of the brain caused by the measles virus and occurs in up to one in 1000 cases. A fatal condition known as sub-acute sclerosing pan encephalitis occurs in 1 in 10000 cases and is a progressive neurological disorder which presents years after measles infection.
 
People are at risk of measles if they are exposed to an infectious case and have never had measles or have not received two doses of measles containing vaccine. Two doses of measles containing vaccine provide lifelong protection against infection in 99 per cent of vaccinated people. People born before 1966 are assumed to be immune to measles.
  
NSW Health encourages all people 12 months of age or older, and born during or after 1966 make sure they have received two doses of measles vaccine. The National Immunisation Program offers two doses of measles vaccine to all children in Australia at 12 months of age (as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine) and 18 months of age (as measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine). MMR is provided free in NSW to anyone born during or after 1966, with no evidence of immunity to measles, from general practitioners. For people who are unsure of whether they have previously received two doses, it is safe to receive more than two.
 
Travellers are encouraged to discuss their travel plans with their GP to ensure that they are protected against preventable diseases such as measles prior to travel. People travelling with children between the ages of 9 months and 18 months of age should discuss travel plans with their doctor, as the vaccination schedule can be adjusted for children travelling to high risk areas for measles.
 
For more information download the  measles factsheet, or visit the measles webpage.
 
 
Current as at: Tuesday 2 April 2019
Contact page owner: Communicable Diseases