Measles alert: infected man visited Lapstone Hotel
A health alert has been issued for residents of Glenbrook and Blaxland after a man infected with measles visited a local hotel.
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NSW Health is warning Glenbrook and Blaxland residents to be alert for symptoms of measles after an infectious man visited the Lapstone Hotel last Sunday, November 10.
The Illawarra man in his 30s, who had an uncertain vaccination history, had recently returned from a trip to Thailand and was not connected to any other known cases from NSW.
The man is believed to have spent time at the Lapstone Hotel between 11am and 6pm before travelling to the Illawarra.
A Nepean Blue Mountains Health spokesman said anyone who visited the area during that time should check for symptoms until December 1.
“Watch out for fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body,” the spokesman said.
“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear following exposure to a person with measles.
“Local public health unit staff are identifying people who have been in close contact with the case, and arranging preventive treatment if required.”
The spokesman said anyone displaying symptoms should contact their GP immediately.
“Call ahead to your GP to ensure that you aren’t waiting alongside other patients,” they said.
“Measles is highly contagious, and anyone born during or after 1966 should ensure they have had two doses of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine, which provides lifelong protection in 99 per cent of vaccinated people.
“NSW Health makes the measles vaccine available free for anyone born during or after 1966 who doesn’t have two documented doses.”
According to the Department of Health, measles is a serious disease that can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), middle-ear infections and, in worst-case scenarios, death.
About one in 15 infected people will develop pneumonia, and about one in 1000 will develop encephalitis.
Measles is so infectious that around 90 per cent of unimmunised people that come in contact with the disease will become infected.
The disease has no treatment, and will get better on its own. You can relieve the symptoms by getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol.