NSW child diagnosed with measles, marking three cases in under a week

A child has become the third person has been diagnosed with the measles in less than a week.

NSW Health last night said the child visited the Royal North Shore Hospital after becoming infected.

A spokeswoman said staff are still confirming details about the latest case with more information expected later today.

It's the third confirmed case in less than a week after NSW Health yesterday said a visitor from the ACT was diagnosed with the infection.

The ACT resident was infectious while visiting the Central Coast and Sydney's northern suburbs between December 26 and 30.

The person visited Thornleigh McDonald's, Jasmine Cafe at Umina Beach and made several visits to Deepwater Plaza in Woy Woy and Umina Beach Shopping Centre.

It follows another confirmed case on December 29 when a young adult from Sydney returned from Thailand and was diagnosed with measles.

Communicable diseases director Vicky Sheppeard says anyone in those 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.

“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 infection is highly contagious and can spread through coughing or sneezing.

Measles symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.

AAP