Fifth infectious measles case in NSW

10 January 2019

A fifth person has developed measles in NSW after being exposed to an infectious child visiting from Thailand.

The unvaccinated adult, a male in his 20s, developed measles nine days after his first exposure to the disease.

Between January 4 – 8, the man visited Darling Harbour, Town Hall, Newtown and Marrickville while infectious.

People who were in the following locations should remain alert for symptoms until 26 January, as the time from exposure to the onset of symptoms is 10 - 18 days.

  • Bungalow 8, 3 Lime Street Sydney (King St Wharf), from 7pm Friday 4 January to 3am Saturday 5 January.
  • The train from Newtown Station to Town Hall station on Saturday 5 January at 7pm.
  • Albion Place Hotel, 531 George Street, Sydney on Saturday 5 January from 7 to 11:15 pm
  • The bus from Town Hall (Castlereagh St) to King Street Newtown on Saturday 5 January at 11:30pm.
  • Anytime Fitness Newtown, 93 King Street Newtown on Monday 7 January (5-7pm) and Tuesday 8 January (5-6pm)
  • Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre and Marrickville Metro Medical Centre, 34 Victoria Rd Marrickville on Wednesday 9 January from 1:30-2:30pm
  • Service NSW Marrickville, 9/34 Victoria Rd Marrickville on Wednesday 9 January from 1:45 - 2pm.
People who might have been exposed to the man while at the gym, or the GP practice are being contacted directly to assess their immunity to measles and offer preventive therapy if they are not immune.

Others who might have come into contact with the man at the locations listed above are advised to be alert for symptoms of measles.

“If you develop symptoms please call ahead to your GP so that you do not wait in the waiting room with other patients,” Dr Sheppeard said.

“The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective protection against measles, and is available for free for those aged 1 to 52 from your GP. If you are unsure whether you have had two doses, it is quite safe to have another dose.”

Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease.

Symptoms of measles 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.

For more information on measles, visit Measles.