Measles alert after Sydney international airport scare

A health alert has been issued for measles after a confirmed case in the ACT was infectious while transiting through Sydney.

A health alert has been issued for measles by NSW Health. Picture: istock

A traveller infected with measles has travelled into Australia and moved around cities, with a health alert now issued for the highly infectious disease.

The case is an adult who recently returned from Asia, where there has been ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Pakistan and India.

Those who travelled on an Air India flight AI302 from Delhi to Sydney arriving on Saturday January 20 at 8.10am have been told to watch out for symptoms.

Anyone at Sydney Airport Terminal 1 International Arrivals, including baggage claims and customs, and bus and coach bay 9 that morning were also exposed.

Passengers travelling from Sydney to Canberra with on Murrays Bus company, departing the airport at 10.30am on January 20, should also be alert.

Measles can easily spread from person to person.

Symptoms of measles 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 to the rest of the body.

Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes.

Director of Communicable Diseases Branch, NSW Health, Dr Christine Selvey said symptoms may appear between seven and 18 days after an exposure, so it’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed.

The person travelled on an Air India flight landing in Sydney on January 20. Picture: AFP

“This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is very infectious,” she said.

“Anyone born during or after 1966 needs to ensure they have received two doses of measles vaccine, this is particularly important prior to overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.”

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective against measles and is included on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for children at 12 and 18 months of age.

It is also free in NSW for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn’t already had two doses.

Children aged six to 12 months can have their MMR vaccine schedule adjusted to receive their first dose earlier if they are travelling to areas considered high risk for measles following consultation with their GP.

Originally published as Measles alert after Sydney international airport scare