Northern Rivers: Second measles alert issued

Northern NSW health authorities have released a second alert for measles after reports a close contact of an infected person contracted the highly contagious disease.

Northern Rivers residents with suspected measles infections are asked to call ahead before seeking medical attention following a second alert in nine days for the highly contagious illness.

Northern NSW health authorities have issued a second measles alert within nine days for residents who visited a popular shopping centre in the Northern Rivers.

Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of the illness following reports a second person with measles was infectious while visiting Lismore Square Shopping Centre last week.

The health body said the first case was confirmed as measles on February 9 and the second case confirmed on February 19 is a family member of the first case who returned from overseas the week prior.

NNSWLHD Director of Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech.

NNSWLHD Director of Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech, said if you or someone you know, visited the following locations at during the specified times they should monitor for the development of symptoms:

Wednesday, February 12 at Lismore Square Shopping Centre, from 8.40am to 2.45pm, in particular time spent in Woolworths, Coles, Cotton On Body, and Pet Barn, and Thursday, February 13 at Lismore Square Shopping Centre, from 8.45am to 5.25pm, in particular time spent in Cotton On, Cotton On Body, and Coles.

She reassured the public the locations pose no ongoing risk to the public.

“We want to get on top of it (measles) very quickly,” Dr Delpech said.

Measles vaccine has been in practice since 1963. Picture: Getty

Despite being only the second case of measles in the Northern Rivers so far this year Dr Delpech said someone with measles can infect up to 18 other people.

“Measles is ten times more infectious than covid,” she said.

“You can catch it just by walking past someone in a shopping centre.”

She said the respiratory virus can survive in the air for up to two hours from an infected person who has sneezed or coughed before the bug dies.

With most of Australian cases of measles coming from overseas travel Dr Delpech said measles immunisation has been around since 1963.

A person infected with the deadly measles virus returned from overseas to Lismore before they were diagnosed.

“Measles is very serious for the elderly or very young. It can cause middle ear infections, swelling on the brain (encephalitis) or pneumonia.

“It’s understandable a lot of people have vaccine fatigue yet the measles vaccine is very safe and has been around for a very long time. We have successfully used it to stop the spread.”

Measles is a respiratory illness that usually begins with a runny nose, or conjunctivitis.

“A person can fall ill quite quickly,” Dr Delpech said.

“Symptoms to watch out for 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 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 March 3,” Dr Delpech said.

Residents are asked to call ahead for suspected infections when seeking medical care.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age.

It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.

Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to six months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.

“Think about having a conversation about measles with your GP, especially if you are intending to travel.”

Residents are asked to call ahead for suspected infections when seeking medical care.

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