Sydney Airport’s domestic arrival hall and an interstate flight have been added to the growing list of sites potentially exposed to measles as NSW records its third case.
Visitors to the Qantas arrival hall at Terminal 3 between 10.30-11PM on December 29 and passengers om-board flight QF748 from Adelaide to Sydney arriving at the same time were being urged to monitor for symptoms of the potentially deadly disease.
Anyone who attended Concord Repatriation General Hospital Emergency Department between 1-4.10PM on January 3 were also asked to be on alert.
It comes after a third case of measles was reported in travellers returning to Sydney in the past week after visiting countries in Southeast Asia, where authorities are dealing with ongoing outbreaks of measles.
More than 50 additional sites have already been identified by NSW Health, including restaurants, train services, Woolworths in Sydney’s east and north, multiple hospitals, Sydney Airport’s international arrival terminal, and a child play area.
The potential exposure sites range from as early as December 3 to January 3.
Visitors to the domestic arrivals hall and the Qantas flight were asked to monitor for symptoms until January 16, while anyone who visited Concord Hospital during the exposure window were asked to on alert until January 21.
Health officials say there is no continuing risk of exposure at any of the sites.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms usually show 10 days after exposure and typically present at first like the flu, including tiredness, a fever, a cough, runny nose, and sore, red eyes.
Within a few days, a rash may appear.
A third of infected people have complications and may require hospitalisation, including for ear infections, diarrhoea, and pneumonia.
In some cases, measles can lead to serious illness or even death.
Western Sydney Local Health District Acting Director of Public Health Dr Conrad Moreira said the recent surge in cases was a reminder to ensure residents are protected.
“The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough,” she said.
“This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.
“Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine.
“This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.“
Children as young as six-months-old can have the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine if they are travelling overseas, however is also safe for children aged between 12 and 18 months.
It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.
Currently, Indonesia (including Bali), Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. – popular destinations for Australian tourists – are experiencing measles outbreaks.
