Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. Photo: iStock.
UPDATED Friday 27 March: More Wollongong residents are advised to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of three new confirmed cases.
All of the cases acquired their infection locally following contact with a confirmed case earlier this month.
The new cases visited several locations across Wollongong while unknowingly infectious. A full list of locations is available on NSW Health, and will be updated regularly.
The locations do not pose an ongoing risk, but people who attended these locations should watch for symptoms of measles.
Tuesday 17 March: Illawarra residents are being urged to monitor for measles symptoms after a confirmed case visited several locations across the region while infectious, including Wollongong Hospital and a service station in Albion Park.
NSW Health says the person had recently returned from South Asia, where measles outbreaks are occurring, and may have exposed others while unknowingly carrying the virus.
In the Illawarra, the affected locations are:
- Wollongong Hospital ED on Wednesday, 11 March, at 11:20 pm to Thursday, 12 March, at 6:30 pm.
- Wollongong Hospital Medical Assessment Unit from Thursday, 12 March, at 4:22 pm to Friday, 13 March, at 6:30 pm.
- Wollongong Hospital Medical Imaging Unit on Thursday, 12 March, from 2:30 am to 6:30 am.
- EG Ampol Albion Park at 60 Terry Street on Saturday, 7 March, from 4:45 am to 11:45 am, and Sunday, 8 March, from 11:30 am to 5 pm.
If it has been less than six days since exposure at these locations and you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or have an infant who was exposed, you are advised to contact the Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) Public and Population Health co-director Curtis Gregory said anyone who visited those locations at those times should monitor for symptoms and, if the signs develop, see their doctor or health service, including an emergency department.
“Call ahead to let them know that you may have come into contact with measles so you don’t spend time in waiting rooms with other patients,” Mr Gregory said.
“Symptoms to watch out for 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.
“Anyone with early symptoms who gets a rash a few days later should also think about measles, even if they haven’t attended one of the identified locations, and seek testing.
“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited this location to look out for symptoms up until 18 days from their date of visit to those areas at Wollongong Hospital.’’
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes.
“Importantly, we want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough,” Mr Gregory said.
Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age and is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.
People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should obtain a vaccination, as additional doses are safe.
For a full list of public exposure locations, visit the NSW Health website. Exposure locations and times are updated regularly.
If you are experiencing measles symptoms, or a loved one is, or you have questions about measles, call a GP or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
