NSW Health is again alerting passengers following diagnosis of two more cases of measles in returning travellers, bringing the total of overseas acquired cases notified since Christmas to six.
The most recent report is for two unvaccinated children who developed measles while returning from Sri Lanka, and were diagnosed with the infection in Sydney today.
The children were in the following locations while infectious:
Flight SQ221 from Singapore, arriving in Sydney at 07:40 on Friday January 11
The children are now isolated and are recovering at home. The local public health unit is working with health services to contact other patients present at the same time and offering preventive treatment, if needed.
People who were on SQ221, at Sydney International Airport, or on the train from the airport to Meadowbank in the morning of January 11 should be alert for measles symptoms until January 29 as the time from exposure to the onset of symptoms is from a week to 18 days.
“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.”
NSW Health once again urges people travelling to south-east Asia where measles is prevalent to ensure they are fully vaccinated before heading overseas.
Outbreaks of measles in popular tourist destinations means the risk for measles being imported into Australia at the moment is high.
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 visit Measles.