Measles alert at Central Coast train station

Some Central Coast train travellers have been urged to watch for measles symptoms after a woman with the highly contagious disease traveled on a local train.

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Have you been exposed?

Some Central Coast train travellers have been urged to watch for measles symptoms after a woman with the highly contagious disease traveled on a local train.

NSW Health says the woman in her 20s travelled on the Wyong to Central train service which left Wyong at 5.12pm on Friday April 5.

The university studentdid not know she was sick and brings the State’s measles notifications to 35 since last Christmas.

Measles is highly contagious.

Her other travel movements included:

WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL

F45 Gym Haymarket, 39 Goulburn Street, Haymarket, 7:15am - 8:45am

Macquarie University (various buildings), Balaclava Rd, Macquarie Park, 11:00am - 6:00pm

THURSDAY 4 APRIL

Caffeine Project, Shop RG11, 28 Broadway, Chippendale (Carlton Street side of Central Park Shopping Centre), 11:00am - 11:30am

Macquarie University, Balaclava Rd Macquarie Park, 1:00pm - 6:00pm

A woman with measles travelled from Wyong to Central on the train.

FRIDAY 5 APRIL

Central Station, Grand Concourse, including intercity platforms, 7am - 7:30am

XPT service from Central Station to Maitland, departing Central 7:08am, arriving Maitland 10:00am

Lavenders Riverside Café, 1/418 High Street, Maitland, 11:00am - 11:30am

Hunter Valley Grammar School, 42 Norfolk St, Ashtonfield, 3:15pm - 4:15pm

Train from Wyong to Central, departing Wyong at 5:12pm

SATURDAY 6 APRIL

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Office, 4:45am - 9:30am

Central Park Shopping Centre, 28 Broadway, Chippendale 10:30am - 11:00am

Marcellin Park, Lorn, Maitland, 1:45pm and 3:00pm

SUNDAY 7 APRIL

Seraphine Café, 230 High Street Maitland, 9:30am - 11:00am

The Maitland Hospital Emergency Department, 10:40am and 12:00pm

Rutherford Homemakers Centre (including Early Settler, Eureka, Oz Design Furniture, Harvey Norman, Domayne, and Beacon Lighting) 12:00pm - 1:00pm

The Maitland Hospital Emergency Department, 1:00pm - 3:40pm

People have been urged to be vaccinated before travelling to south east Asia.

NSW Health said none of the locations visited by the woman pose an ongoing risk. The local public health unit is working with Maitland Hospital to directly contact patients who were there at the same time as the woman.

NSW Health Director of Communicable Diseases Vicky Sheppeard said people in these locations at the time should be alert for symptoms up to at least April 23, 2019.

“We cannot stress enough the need for holidaymakers to be vaccinated before travelling to South-East Asia because the majority of cases we are seeing are being brought home,” Dr Sheppeard said.

NSW Health Communical Diseases Unit director Dr Vicki Sheppeard.

“NSW already has record immunisation rates but the community is not fully covered and measles is highly contagious and can stay in the air for up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left a room.

“If you’re not sure if you have had two doses of measles vaccine which provides lifelong protection in 99 out of 100 people, it is safe to get another jab, particularly if you’re heading overseas.”

SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR

■ Fever

■ Sore eyes and a cough

■ Followed three or four days later by a red, spotty rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

If infected, people should call ahead to their GP or hospital to ensure they don’t expose people in the waiting room.

Dr Sheppeard said preventive injections can also be given to highly-susceptible people up to six days after exposure to measles. People can contact their local public health unit for advice on 1300 066 055.

The NSW Government has invested approximately $130 million in the 2018-19 Immunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.

The latest Annual Immunisation Coverage Report shows vaccination rates in NSW are at their highest level ever, with more than 95 per cent of five year olds vaccinated against measles.