Measles Alert Issued for Travellers at Sydney Airport
NSW Health advises vigilance following exposure incident involving traveller with measles visiting international and domestic terminals.
Travellers who passed through Sydney Airport on January 17 are being urged to monitor for signs of measles after a passenger carrying the virus arrived from overseas and transferred to a domestic flight to the Gold Coast.
The individual, who was infectious at the time, landed on Jetstar flight JQ4 from Honolulu at 4:30 p.m. and later boarded Qantas flight QF596 from Sydney to the Gold Coast at 9:30 p.m. during the same evening.
NSW Health issued a public alert covering individuals present at Sydney Airport’s international terminal from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and domestic terminal 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the specified date.
According to Dr. Christine Selvey, director of the communicable diseases branch at NSW Health, although there is no ongoing threat at these locations, those who were present should observe for symptoms for at least 10 days from their potential exposure to the virus.
Measles symptoms typically include fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough, followed by a distinct red rash that may appear several days after initial symptoms.
The incubation period can last up to 18 days, meaning symptomatic vigilance should be maintained until February 4.
NSW Health has emphasized the importance of ensuring vaccinations are current, as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is effective in preventing the disease even post-exposure, provided it is administered promptly.
The MMR vaccine is offered to children at no cost at 12 and 18 months, and is available to individuals born after 1965 who have not already had two doses.
Small children planning international travel to regions experiencing measles outbreaks are advised to receive earlier vaccination after consulting healthcare providers.
Additional alerts were issued for specific locations in Berala, Sydney's west, following potential exposure linked to visits from January 18. Among these were Family Doctors, Berala Pharmacy, and 4Cyte Pathology visited between 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on that date.
Global measles outbreaks underscore the necessity of verifying immunization status before overseas travel, considering that the disease remains prevalent in multiple regions worldwide, presenting increased risks of potential exposure to international travelers.
The individual, who was infectious at the time, landed on Jetstar flight JQ4 from Honolulu at 4:30 p.m. and later boarded Qantas flight QF596 from Sydney to the Gold Coast at 9:30 p.m. during the same evening.
NSW Health issued a public alert covering individuals present at Sydney Airport’s international terminal from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and domestic terminal 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the specified date.
According to Dr. Christine Selvey, director of the communicable diseases branch at NSW Health, although there is no ongoing threat at these locations, those who were present should observe for symptoms for at least 10 days from their potential exposure to the virus.
Measles symptoms typically include fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough, followed by a distinct red rash that may appear several days after initial symptoms.
The incubation period can last up to 18 days, meaning symptomatic vigilance should be maintained until February 4.
NSW Health has emphasized the importance of ensuring vaccinations are current, as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is effective in preventing the disease even post-exposure, provided it is administered promptly.
The MMR vaccine is offered to children at no cost at 12 and 18 months, and is available to individuals born after 1965 who have not already had two doses.
Small children planning international travel to regions experiencing measles outbreaks are advised to receive earlier vaccination after consulting healthcare providers.
Additional alerts were issued for specific locations in Berala, Sydney's west, following potential exposure linked to visits from January 18. Among these were Family Doctors, Berala Pharmacy, and 4Cyte Pathology visited between 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on that date.
Global measles outbreaks underscore the necessity of verifying immunization status before overseas travel, considering that the disease remains prevalent in multiple regions worldwide, presenting increased risks of potential exposure to international travelers.
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