Passengers ontwo Sydney domestic flights and people in various locations in Sydney areadvised to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles, after a man aged in hisforties was diagnosed with the infection in Queensland following a four daytrip to Sydney.
The man isbelieved to have been infectious on two flights:
- 29 June – Tiger Airways flight TT609 from Gold Coast Airport to Sydney Airport Terminal 2, arriving at 11.25am
- 2 July – Jetstar flight JQ420 from Sydney Airport Terminal 2 to the Gold Coast departing at 10.20am.
While in NSW,the man spent time in the following places while infectious:
Saturday 29June
- Train from Domestic Airport to Circular Quay, departing 12:15pm
- Café Rossini, Circular Quay, between 3:00pm and 4:00pm
- Ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, departing 4:00pm
- Blue Water Café, 28 South Steyne, Manly, around 4:30pm
- Ferry from Manly to Circular Quay, departing 6:00pm
Monday 1 July
- Bus 599 to Berowra station, around 9:30am
- Train from Berowra to Wynyard Station departing 9:50am
- The Rocks Discovery Museum, Kendall Lane, The Rocks, between 11:00am and 12:00pm
- The Australian Hotel, 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks at lunchtime.
- Starbuck’s at Hyde Park (Pacific Power Building) at 3:00pm
- McDonald’s at Circular Quay at 5:00pm
- Train from City Circle to Berowra Station departing 6:20pm
- Bus 599 from Berowra Station around 7:20pm
Tuesday 2 July
- Train from Central Station to Domestic Airport departing 6:25am.
QueenslandHealth is following up potential exposures after the man’s arrival to the Gold Coast.The man is believed to have acquired the measles infection in Thailand.
NSW HealthDirector of Communicable Diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard said none of the locationsvisited by the man pose an ongoing risk.
It can take upto 18 days for symptoms to appear following exposure to a person with measles. Peoplein the same places at the same time as the man should be alert for signs andsymptoms of measles until 20 July.
“Symptoms towatch out for include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four dayslater by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of thebody,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“Anyone whodevelops symptoms of measles should phone their GP to ensure they don’t waitalongside other patients before seeing their doctor.
“Themeasles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safe and effective protection against measles,”she said.
Two doses ofmeasles vaccine provides lifelong protection in 99 out of 100 people who arevaccinated.
“It’s free foranyone born during or after 1966 who hasn’t already had two doses. If you’reunsure whether you’ve had two doses, it’s safe to have another.”
Measles ishighly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing bysomeone who is unwell with the disease.
While the riskof infection is low in fully-vaccinated people, health experts urge anyone whocomes into contact with someone who has measles to remain alert for symptoms.
If symptomsdevelop they should limit their exposure to others and seek medical care.
Protectingchildren from potentially deadly diseases is a key priority for the NSWGovernment, which has invested approximately $130 million in the 2019-20 ImmunisationProgram budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.
The latestAnnual Immunisation Coverage Report shows vaccination rates in NSW are at theirhighest level ever, with more than 95% of five year olds vaccinated againstmeasles.
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