Health authorities are urging parents to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of measles, after a baby was diagnosed with the infection in NSW.

NSW Health said the nine-month-old was infectious while recently visiting locations in Sydney’s inner west and south-west. The baby had recently returned from Asia, where there’s been an outbreak of measles in several countries including Pakistan and India.

People may have been exposed to the case in the following locations:

• Emirates flight EK416 from Dubai to Sydney: arrived in Sydney on Wednesday, 10 January at 6:36pm.
• Sydney Airport Terminal 1 International Arrivals (including baggage claim and customs): on Wednesday, 10 January ​between 6:36pm – 9:00pm​.
• ​​Five Star Coffee and Nuts ​Lakemba: on Friday, 12 January between 3:00pm – 5:00pm.

The locations pose no ongoing risk, but anyone who visited these areas during the above times should be on the lookout for symptoms.

“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, 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,” Sydney Local Health District’s Clinical Director of Public Health Dr Leena Gupta said.

“Anyone born during or after 1966 needs to ensure they have received two doses of measles vaccine, this is particularly important prior to overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.”

Measles is a vaccine preventable disease, spread through the air when someone who has the infection coughs or sneezes. It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after exposure.

Measles Signs And Symptoms

Measles symptoms include fever, severe cough, conjunctivitis and a rash that usually starts on the face. The initial symptoms may be similar to those of Covid and the flu. Measles is highly infectious and can stay in the environment for up to two hours.

People at high risk of measles complications include:

• children from birth to 11 months (who are too young for routine measles vaccination)
• pregnant women who haven’t had measles vaccination
• people with a weakened immune system due to illness or treatment.

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