​NSW Health has issued an alert for patrons of a restaurant in Strathfield, a cafe in Hurstville, and patients at the St George Hospital Emergency Department after an 8 month old infant was diagnosed with measles.  patrons of a restaurant in Strathfield, a cafe in Hurstville, and patients at the St George Hospital Emergency Department after an 8 month old infant was diagnosed with measles.

Information related to the second infant mentioned in the release can be found on the Measles alert - Eastwood, Castle Hill, and Kellyville.

The infant, too young to have received their first dose of measles vaccine, most likely acquired their infection from a recent local case, after spending time in the World Square/Haymarket area. Cases like this highlight how easily the measles virus can spread, as the infant is unlikely to have had direct contact with the case, but rather was just in the same place at the same time.

Prior to being diagnosed, the infant spent time in a number of locations (detailed in the map and table below) while unknowingly infectious.

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.

People in the same locations at the same time as the infant should be alert for signs and symptoms of measles until 17 April, as it can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to a person who is infectious with measles.

Measles is a serious viral illness which is easily spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. 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.

 Strathfield, Hurstville, and St George Hospital Emergency Department, Tuesday 26 March to Saturday 30 March 2019

20190402-001-map-w-sites.png
Map created using Arc GIS Portal (Sources: Esri, OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA)

​Date ​Location
​Tuesday 26 March 2019 ​Yass Korean BBQ Buffet, 1/39 The Boulevarde Strathfield, Tuesday 26 March between 6:30pm and 10:00pm
​Wednesday 27 March 2019 ​Time Brasserie (restaurant/cafe), Shop 11, Level 1 Time Plaza Hurstville, 127-137 Forest Road Hurstville, Wednesday 27 March between 4:00pm and 5:30pm
Saturday 30 March 2019​ ​St George Hospital Emergency Department, 28a Gray Street Kogarah, Saturday 30 March between 7:30pm and 11:00pm
 

These sites pose no ongoing risk to the public. The local public health unit are working with the Hospital to directly contact patients present at the same time as the infant.

About Measles

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