Health authorities are urging people in parts of New South Wales and Queensland to monitor for measles symptoms after a person with a confirmed case of the highly infectious virus travelled interstate.
NSW Health said the adult boarded a plane on the Gold Coast and flew to Sydney on 7 February before travelling from central Sydney to Lane Cove and then to Haymarket on 10 February.
Tracing is under way in Queensland, where Gold Coast Health confirmed it is looking into potential exposure sites.
The individual recently returned from south-east Asia, where there are ongoing measles outbreaks in several countries, NSW Health said.
The case is not connected to a measles case in northern NSW which was confirmed earlier this week.
In a further update on Wednesday evening, Gold Coast Health said it had been notified of another case, a school-aged child from the Gold Coast who has returned from overseas where they acquired the virus.
The highly contagious virus is spread by coughing and sneezing, with those who are infected taking up to 18 days to show symptoms. One individual is able to infect nine out of 10 unvaccinated close contacts, with complications from the disease including pneumonia, blindness and meningitis.
The South Eastern Sydney local health district director of public health, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, said the locations pose no risk but that those who were there at the same time as the infectious individual should monitor for symptoms.
“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,” she said.
“Symptoms may appear between 7 and 18 days after an exposure, so it’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients,” she said.
She urged those who are unsure whether they have been vaccinated against measles to contact their GP, particularly if they plan to travel overseas.
The NSW/ACT chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Rebekah Hoffman, said that as the virus was airborne, “you do have to be at that location at that time” to be at risk.
Given measles’ long latency period, people need to monitor for symptoms for the next two weeks, she said.
“If you were there at those times and you feel like you have a runny nose and the start of some respiratory symptoms, book a telehealth appointment. And, of course, wear a mask,” she said.
The virus is on the rise in Europe, where cases have risen 30-fold, triggering urgent warnings from the World Health Organization.
Measles exposure locations and times:
Monday 5 February
Nerang State School, Nerang between 8:45am to 3:30pm
Flipz Academy Southport, Southport between 3:30pm to 4:45pm
Southport Park Shopping Centre, Southport between 3:30pm to 4:45pm
Flight JQ427 from Gold Coast, arriving in Sydney at 10:15pm
Monday 5 February to 7 February
QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise
Tuesday 6 February
Palm Springs Café Burleigh, Burleigh Heads between 9:30am to 11am
Sea World Marine Park Gold Coast, Main Beach between 11:30am to 5:30pm
Etsu Japanese Izakaya Restaurant, Mermaid Beach between 9pm to 10:30pm
Tram and bus 700 and 777 route from Surfers Paradise to Mermaid Beach between 8:20pm to 9pm
Wednesday 7 February
Flight JQ427 from Gold Coast, arriving in Sydney 10:15pm
Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 2 between 10:15pm and 11pm
You Japanese Restaurant, Surfers Paradise between 11am to 12:30pm
Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads between 1:20pm to 3pm
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach Waters 3pm to 5:30pm
PappaRich, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach Waters 3pm to 5:30pm
Gold Coast Airport, Bilinga 6pm to 8:15pm
Saturday 10 February
Bus Route 288 from Sussex St at Erskine St to Lane Cove Interchange Stand C between 9:30am and 10am
Thai Chiva Therapeutic Massage, Lane Cove between 10am and 7pm
Satang Thai Takeaway Restaurant, Haymarket between 9pm and 11pm
Monday 12 February
Woolworths Nerang, Nerang between 11am to 12pm
Nerang Mall, Nerang between 11am to 12pm
