Measles alert issued for NSW after infectious case travels down coast
An urgent measles alert has been issued after an infectious person recently visited multiple locations across NSW.
The person, who recently returned from south-east Asia, spent time in Sydney, the NSW mid-north coast, Newcastle and Gundagai last week.
NSW Health is urging anyone who visited these places to monitor for symptoms over the coming days.
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NSW Health issued a measles alert after an infectious case visited multiple venues across the state. Getty
The infected person spent time at locations on the NSW north and mid-north coast on December 16, including Byron Bay Beach between 9am and 12pm, United Petroleum in Mullaway, Coffs Central Shopping Centre, the Woolworths at Park Avenue in Coffs Harbour and Wingam Riverside Reserve camping site.
The case then visited venues in Newcastle on December 17 – Newcastle Bogey Hole Pool, The Grand Hotel and Woolworths.
An alert has also been issued for anyone who visited McDonald's at the Liverpool Mega Centre in western Sydney, the BP Truck Stop in Normanhurst and Bungonia Campground in Bungonia on December 17.
On December 18, the infected person then visited Coles Express in Gundagai.
Executive Director of Health Protection NSW Dr Jeremy McAnulty said anyone who visited the above places should be on the lookout for measles symptoms.
Symptoms can include fever, sore eyes, a cough and a red blotchy rash which usually develops three or four days later and spreads to the entire body.
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Symptoms can include a blotchy rash, fever and a cough. iStock
"It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it's important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until 5 January in the new year," McAnulty said.
"We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.
"This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious."
McAnulty said anyone born after 1965 should have two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) jab.
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It is free for children at 12 and 18 months of age and also free for those in NSW who were born after 1965 and haven't had their double dose of the vaccine.
Children aged under 12 months can have their first dose of MMR if they will be travelling to high-risk areas for the disease.
For more information, visit NSW Health.
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