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Lismore: Measles alert issued after infected person returns from overseas, visits multiple locations

Health officials have issued a measles alert following reports of an infected person attending several locations in this busy Northern NSW township.

Lismore Base hospital
Lismore Base hospital

The Northern NSW Local Area Heath District has issued an alert for measles following reports of a confirmed infectious case in Lismore.

Health authorities said the person had recently returned from overseas and visited several locations in the town while infected.

Residents are advised to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles which infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.

Measles in a young boy. Picture: ACS
Measles in a young boy. Picture: ACS

People who attended the following locations should watch for the development of symptoms:

• Lismore Square Shopping Centre (Cnr Brewster and Uralba Streets, Lismore) between 11am and 1pm on Sunday, February 2.

• Lismore Base Hospital Emergency Department between 6.15pm on Thursday, February 6 and 2.20am on Friday, February 7.

Northern NSW Local Health District Director of Population Health, Dr Valerie Delpech, said while these locations pose no ongoing risk, if you or someone you know, visited the above locations at those times you should monitor for symptoms.

 “Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose 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,” Dr Delpech said.

A child with measles. Picture: NSW Health
A child with measles. Picture: NSW Health

Dr Delpech said if symptoms develop please phone ahead for medical attention so health workers can take precautions to prevent measles being spread.

“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 Tuesday, February 25,” Dr Delpech said.

She said the highly infectious disease, which is caused by a virus, can be prevented with vaccination.

 “We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations,” she said.

A typical measles rash. Picture: Victoria Department of Health
A typical measles rash. Picture: Victoria Department of Health

Dr Delpech said with measles outbreaks occurring in several regions of the world at present anyone wishing to travel overseas should check their vaccination status.

Measles is commonly spread when a person breathes in the measles virus that has been coughed or sneezed into the air by an infectious person.

Measles is one of the most easily spread of all human infections. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can result in infection.

People with measles are usually infectious from just before the symptoms begin until four days after the rash appears.

Got a news tip? Email catherine.piltz@news.com.au

Originally published as Lismore: Measles alert issued after infected person returns from overseas, visits multiple locations

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/regional/lismore-measles-alert-issued-after-infected-person-returns-from-overseas-visits-multiple-locations/news-story/8a997fb5076617e1cb482c53459c36a8