Rodney Stevens
A Measles alert has been issued by NSW Health for the Northern Rivers region after a case of the disease was confirmed in a traveller who recently returned from travelling to Asia where there have been ongoing outbreaks in several countries including Pakistan and India.
Three separate exposure sites the infected person attended in Murwillumbah have been identified by NSW Health and people who think they may be developing symptoms of Measles are urged to seek medical help.
On February 5, primary and secondary school children who travelled in the morning and afternoon bus services by Singh’s Bus Service may have been exposed to the virus and are advised to be on the lookout for symptoms.
Also, people who went to the Murwillumbah Hospital Emergency Department between 1.15pm and 4pm on February 9, and between 12.15pm and 8pm on February 10, may be at risk of developing symptoms.
Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes.
North Coast Regional Director of Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech, said while these locations pose no ongoing risk, people who visited the above locations should be on the lookout for symptoms.
“Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body,” Dr Delpech said.
“Symptoms may appear between 7 and 18 days after an exposure, so it’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patient.”
At least two cases of Measles have been detected in Gold Coast residents this month.
People born in or after 1966 require two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella MMR vaccine to ensure they are fully protected against the virus, with vaccines available for free in NSW.
This warning comes after outbreaks of Measles have been reported across Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the USA.
In late January a Measles alert was issued across four states, after infected overseas travellers returned to Australia, with alerts issued in NSW, the ACT, Victoria and Queensland.
People most at risk of serious complications from Measles are unvaccinated infants, young children, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system.
If you have a child younger than 12 months and are considering travelling to any warning zones, it is advised to consult your GP to see if your child can receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine before travelling.