NSW Health is again asking people to watch for measles symptoms after a child visiting from overseas developed the infection while in NSW.
This follows the alerts on 29 December and 2 January of separate incidents where adults acquired measles through travel or contact with travellers, and were infectious while in Sydney and the Central Coast.
The child was visiting from a country that has a large outbreak of measles and became infectious on Christmas Eve a few days after arriving in Sydney, and subsequently visited the following locations:
Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases NSW Health, said anyone who was in these locations at the same time should watch for symptoms.
“The time from exposure to the disease to the onset of symptoms is typically about 10 days but can be as long as 18 days so people should be alert to symptoms until mid-January,” Dr Sheppeard said.
Measles symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days l ater by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.
Dr Sheppeard said infants under 12 months of age who are too young to be vaccinated and young adults are most likely to be susceptible to measles.
“People in the 20-40 year age bracket may have missed out on the full vaccination program for measles and mistakenly believe they are protected against the disease.
“The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective protection against measles, and I urge anyone travelling to South East Asia to see their GP for a free shot if they are not fully protected.
“If you are unsure whether you have had two doses, it is quite safe to have another dose before you travel.”
Protecting children from potentially deadly diseases is a key priority for the NSW Government, which has invested approximately $130 million in the 2018-19 I mmunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.
The latest Annual Immunisation Coverage Report shows vaccination rates in NSW are at their highest level ever, with more than 94 per cent of five year olds vaccinated against measles.
NSW children at one and five years of age have some of the highest measles v accine uptake in Australia, boosted by programs including the:
Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease.
Dr Sheppeard said it was important for people to see the GP if they have symptoms, and limit exposure to others until the GP has made a diagnosis.
“If you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP so that you do not wait in the waiting room with other patients,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“Medical and public health staff are contacting people known to have been in contact with this latest case to offer preventive injections, where appropriate.
“Vaccination is your best protection against this extremely contagious disease.”
For more information visit Measles.