Health Alert Issued as Contagious Disease Spreads in Sydney

 

A highly contagious disease is besieging Sydney.

Health Alert Issued as Contagious Disease Spreads in Sydney

Health authorities in New South Wales have announced that Sydney, Australia's most populous city, is facing a significant increase in the likelihood of a measles outbreak, following the recording of 11 cases in just three weeks, NSW Health confirmed in a statement issued Wednesday.

The statement noted that the return of travelers from overseas holidays could lead to the discovery of additional cases, as outbreaks of the disease have been reported in destinations frequented by large numbers of Australian tourists, including Bali, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Health authorities stated that the two most recent cases in Sydney involved a traveler from Thailand and a locally transmitted case. They also explained that the infected individuals had moved between multiple locations within Sydney during their period of infection, which was unknown to them at the time, including healthcare facilities. They confirmed that these locations do not pose an ongoing risk.

NSW Health urged anyone who visited Priceline Pharmacy in St Clair between 3 and 4 pm on January 14, or the emergency department at Nepean Hospital between 7:50 pm on January 16, to monitor for the appearance of any symptoms.

Dr. Alvis Zibran, a public health specialist in the Nepean Blue Mountains region, said that anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their doctor or healthcare provider, emphasizing the importance of calling ahead to avoid potential patients waiting in the same facilities.

 Symptoms to watch for include fever, runny nose, eye irritation, and cough, followed within three to four days by a blotchy, red rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body. It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the infection, so monitoring is necessary during this period.

Authorities confirmed that measles is an airborne disease transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but it is preventable through vaccination. Dr. Zibran emphasized the importance of the community reviewing their personal vaccination status, explaining that the measles vaccine can help prevent the disease from developing if received early after potential exposure.

He added that everyone born after 1965 should make sure they receive two doses of the measles vaccine, especially before traveling abroad, given that cases are currently being recorded in several regions around the world.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is provided free of charge to children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also available free of charge to anyone in New South Wales born after 1965 who has not received two doses. Infants under 12 months of age can receive a dose up to six months early if they are traveling outside Australia.

Those unsure whether they have received both doses are advised to get vaccinated, as the additional doses are safe, especially before traveling. The MMR vaccine is available from doctors for all age groups and from pharmacies for those over five years old.