A new case ofmeasles has been reported in a young woman recently returned from travel to SouthEast Asia.
The woman,whose vaccination status is unknown, spent time in the Sydney CBD, and usedpublic transport between Town Hall and Artarmon while unknowingly infectious.
NSW HealthDirector of Communicable Diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard said none of the locationsvisited by the woman pose an ongoing risk.
This incidentagain underlines the risk of measles in our region and NSW Health urges alltravellers to ensure they are protected against measles before leavingAustralia.
Whileinfectious the woman was in the following locations:
Monday 29 April2019
- Train from Town Hall station to Artarmon station (departing approx. 1:30pm)
- N90 bus from Artarmon back to TownHall departing approx. 4:15am
Tuesday 30April 2019
- Train from Town Hall station to Artarmon station(departing approx. 1:30pm)
- N90 bus from Artarmon back to TownHall departing approx. 2:15am
Wednesday 01May 2019
- Took train fromTown Hall station to Artarmon station (departing 11:30am)
- Took N90 bus fromArtarmon back to Town Hall (departing approx.12:30am)
Saturday04 May 2019
- Took train fromTown Hall station to Artarmon station departing approx. 9:00am
- Took train fromArtarmon station to Town Hall station departing approx. 7:15pm
Sunday05 May 2019
- Capitol Square Atrium Mezzanine - Purikura Games Centre (730-742George Street Haymarket) between 3:00pm and 5:30pm
Monday 06 May2019
- WorldSquare Shopping Centre (644 George Street, Sydney) between 3:00pm and 6:30pm
People in thesame locations at the same time, who may be highly susceptible to measles suchas:
- Childrenunder the age of 12 months,
- people with a weakened immune system (e.g. from cancer therapy or high dose steroid use),
- pregnant women,
should contacttheir local public health unit on 1300 066 055, as preventive injections can beadministered to people up to 6 days after exposure, for highly susceptiblepeople.
All people whowere at the same locations at the same time as the woman should be alert forsigns and symptoms of measles until 24 May 2019, as it can take up to 18 daysfor symptoms to appear following exposure to a person with measles.
"Symptoms towatch out for include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four dayslater by a red, spotty rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body,"Dr Sheppeard said.
"Measles ishighly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing bysomeone who is unwell with the disease.
"Anyone whodevelops symptoms of measles should phone their GP to ensure they don't waitalongside other patients before seeing their doctor.
"People bornbefore 1966 are likely to have had measles as a child and are consideredimmune. For people born during or after 1966, the best protection againstmeasles is receiving two doses of measles vaccine.
"Themeasles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safe and provides effective protection againstmeasles," Dr Sheppeard said.
"It's free inNSW for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn't already had two doses. Ifyou're unsure whether you've had two doses, it's safe to have another."
While the riskof infection is low in fully-vaccinated people, health experts urge anyone whocomes into contact with someone who has measles to remain alert for symptoms.
Protectingchildren from potentially deadly diseases is a key priority for the NSWGovernment, which has invested approximately $130 million in the 2018-19Immunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.
The latestAnnual Immunisation Coverage Report shows vaccination rates in NSW are at theirhighest level ever, with more than 95 per cent of five year olds vaccinatedagainst measles.
For moreinformation on measles visit:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/measles/Pages/key-facts.aspx
