Measles Alert Issued for Sydney and Brisbane: New Cases Trigger Urgent Health Warning

Health authorities in both New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland have issued urgent public health warnings following the confirmation of new measles cases and the identification of potential exposure sites.

NSW Health confirmed that one infected person visited Sydney Airport, the CBD, and inner west locations, and used trains between Saturday and Monday. A full list of specific locations is available on the NSW Health website.

Health Protection NSW executive director Dr. Jeremy McAnulty assured the public that these identified locations pose no ongoing risk now that the infectious period has passed.

Separately, Queensland Health issued its own measles alert after three confirmed cases emerged following a recent concert.

Anyone who attended American singer Jelly Roll’s show on October 24 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre could have been exposed and is urged to monitor for symptoms. The three infected individuals spent time in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Wide Bay areas while unknowingly infectious.

Dr. McAnulty reminded the public that measles is highly infectious and is spread through the air via coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms to watch out for include:

• Fever
• Sore eyes, runny nose, and a cough
• A red, blotchy rash that appears three or four days later, typically spreading from the head and face to the rest of the body.

Because the incubation period can take up to 18 days, anyone who visited the exposure locations must stay vigilant for symptoms until Friday, November 28.

Authorities urge anyone who develops symptoms to call ahead to their GP or emergency department before arriving to prevent exposing other patients in the waiting room.

Vaccination Reminder
“We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations,” Dr. McAnulty said.

Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have received two doses of the measles vaccine. This is especially critical before overseas travel, given current measles outbreaks in several global regions.