Western Sydney measles outbreak spreads to south west
ANOTHER person has contracted the highly contagious measles and has visited a handful of Sydney and southwestern Sydney locations in the last seven days.
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ANOTHER person has contracted the highly contagious measles and has visited a handful of Sydney and southwestern Sydney locations in the last seven days.
This brings the western Sydney outbreak to 17 and the total number of NSW measles cases, with symptoms this year, to 23.
NSW Health is urging people in their 20s, 30s and 40s to check their measles vaccinations status after confirmation of another case connected to the Wyndham College, Quakers Hill outbreak.
The first measles case in the western Sydney outbreak was reported on March 28.
He had spent time in the Blue Mountains, Strathfield and Leichardt areas while infectious. He presented at Blue Mountains Hospital on Good Friday.
Communicable diseases director Vicky Sheppeard said people born between 1966 and 1994 may have only had one dose of the measles vaccine rather than the required two due to changing vaccination schedules.
The vaccine is free to people in this age group through their GP.
The latest case visited the following locations while infectious:
- Powerhouse Museum, early afternoon on April 14
- Rashays Darling Harbour, afternoon on April 14
- Westfield Liverpool including an optometry practice on April 13, 15 and 17
- Blacktown Hospital April 15 at about 7.30pm on April 15
- Casula Central Medical Practice and Chemist Warehouse on April 18 about 10am
“Investigations indicate the latest person to contract measles only had one dose of the vaccine and this person falls into the 20s, 30s and 40s age bracket,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“We are urging all people in this age bracket to check their vaccination history and have the measles vaccine if they do not have a record of having received two doses previously.
“Don’t assume you are covered unless you have written records of two doses. It is perfectly safe to have the measles vaccine again, if you are not sure whether you’ve had two doses of the vaccination in the past.”
Symptoms include fever, sore red eyes and a cough followed by three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.
Dr Sheppeard said it was important for people to watch for symptoms, see their GP if concerned and limit exposure to others.
Public health units are contacting known people in those locations to offer preventive injections.
“However it will not be possible to identify and contact all people who may have been exposed to the disease.
“Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease.”
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LOCATIONS INFECTED PERSONS HAVE VISTED:
April 18: Casula Central Medical Practice and Chemist Warehouse
April 15: Blacktown Hospital
April 13, 15 and 17: Westfield Liverpool
April 14: Rashays Darling Harbour
April 14: Powerhouse Museum
April 10 and 13: Lawson shops
April 10: Marion Aged Care Facility, Leichardt
April 10: Me Oi Vietnamese, Strathfield
April 8: Virgin flight VA965, Sydney to Brisbane
April 7: local train and bus travels in western Sydney
March 28 to April 4: Auburn area including Pharmacy 4 Less
April 3: NAS Medical Centre, Auburn
April 1: Michel’s Patisserie, Auburn
April 1 and 2: Westmead Children’s Hospital emergency department
April 1: Fairfield Hospital emergency department
March 28 to 30: Wyndham College, Quakers Hill
March 28 to 30: Local trains between Flemington and Quakers Hill
March 26 and 31: Fairfield District Medical Centre
March 26 and 28: Tweed Heads Hospital emergency department
March 26: Hillsong Church, Bella Vista
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