Urgent measles alert for millions of Aussies after infected tourist visited a string of CBD locations
A tourist infected with measles has put an entire city on high alert after travelling to multiple locations across Sydney’s CBD and its surrounding suburbs.
The European traveller arrived on Flight JQ62 from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Sydney at 11.45am on December 11.
After that they travelled around the city on public transport for five days before isolating on December 16.
Across that time the traveller rode on seven buses and twice on the light rail while visiting supermarkets, cinemas and a medical clinic.
Anyone who may have been in the same location as the tourist at any time during their travels has been urged to monitor for symptoms of the deadly virus.
Symptoms must be observed for 18 days following any potential exposure.
Sydney Local Health District clinical director of public health Dr Leena Gupta said people only need to be vigilant if they were in the same place at the same time.
‘While these locations pose no ongoing risk, if you, or someone you know, visited the above locations at those times you should monitor for symptoms,’ Dr Gupta said.
An urgent measles warning has gone out in Sydney after an infected European traveller who arrived from Vietnam travelled around the city for five days (stock image)
The European traveller took multiple busses and light rails, as well as visiting supermarkets, a cinema and a health clinic (a bus in Sydney is pictured)
‘Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body.
‘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 January 3, 2025.’
If symptoms develop in this time people are urged to contact their local GP or emergency department to seek treatment.
Those who think they are infected should call ahead before visiting the hospital, in order to limit further exposure of the virus.
Dr Gupta said the incident serves as an important reminder for people to stay up to date with their vaccines.
‘We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations, particularly prior to international travel,’ she said.
‘The measles vaccine can also prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough. This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.’
Every person born after 1965 should check that they have had two doses of the measles vaccine regardless of if they have been exposed, the doctor said.
Sydneysiders who were in the same places as the traveller have been urged to keep an eye out for any symptoms they may develop over the two weeks (pictured, Town Hall station)
Early measles symptoms to watch out for include fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose and sore eyes.
The red, non-itchy rash that comes with the measles usually occurs 3 to 4 days after the first symptoms appear – starting on the face before spreading to the body.
There were two measles scares in Perth last month after an infected person returned from southeast Asia on November 30.
They visited several public places in Armadale, in southeast Perth, from the time they arrived to December 6.
A second incident occurred after another traveller arrived in Perth on a flight from Singapore between 5.30am and 6.30am on December 8.
It is estimated that there were 10.3million cases of measles worldwide in 2023, which represents a whopping 20 per cent spike on 2022 numbers, according to the World Health Organisation and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The organisations released a joint statement last month warning that ‘inadequate immunisation coverage globally is driving the surge in cases’.
More information about symptoms to watch out for and tips on how to handle measles infections can be found on the NSW Health website.
