Health authorities have issued an urgent warning about measles after discovering even more cases in QLD, VIC and NSW.

30 cases in NSW

A young woman has become the 30th person to be diagnosed with measles in NSW since Christmas.

The alert comes days after two babies too young to be vaccinated caught the infection from strangers in public areas in Sydney, as Australia creeps towards a five-year record high number of cases.

The woman likely acquired the infection while in the waiting room of an Eastwood medical practice in mid-March where she was at the same time as an infectious patient who developed measles after returning from Thailand.

Before the woman was diagnosed she spent time in the following locations while infectious:

Friday 29 March
– 521 bus from Mobbs Lane before Epping Park, Epping, departing 7:21am to Eastwood station
– Train departing Eastwood at 7:32am to Redfern
– 309 bus departing at 8:28am from Redfern Station to Gardeners Road Public School opposite Gillespie Ave, Rosebery
– The Pommery Café, 24A Ralph Street, Alexandria, between 10:00am and 10:30am
– 309 bus departing at 5:12pm from Botany Rd opposite Harcourt Parade, Alexandria, to Redfern Station
– SPAR Redfern, 7-9 Gibbons Street, Redfern at 5:50pm
– 309 bus from Redfern Station at 6:11pm, arriving at Green Square Station about 6:20pm
– Woolworths and BWS, 20-26 Ebsworth St, Zetland between 6:30pm and 7:20pm

Saturday 30 March
– 301 bus departing at 10:27am from Roseberry Avenue before Epsom Rd, Zetland to Redfern Station
– Train departing 10:54 from Redfern Station to Epping
​- M54 bus departing Rawson St after Carlingford Rd (Epping Station) at 11:33 am to Willoughby St after Ryde Street ​near Loftus Square Park Epping

Sunday 31 March
– Shops within the vicinity of Auburn Rd Auburn between 3:30 pm and 4:45 pm

Monday 1 April
– 521 bus from Mobbs Lane to Eastwood station, departing Mobbs Lane at 7:21am
– Train from Eastwood to Redfern, departing Eastwood at 7:32am
– 309 bus from Redfern Station to Gardeners Road Public School departing Redfern between 8:11 am and 8:24 am
– 309 bus from Botany Rd opposite Harcourt Pde to Redfern Station, departing Botany Rd approx. 9:30am
– Train from Redfern to Eastwood between 9:30and 10:00am
– Chemist Warehouse Eastwood, 157 Rowe Street Eastwood, around ​midday.

Other cases recently include an 8 month old infant, who likely caught the infection in the Haymarket area near World Square.

The infant spent time at the following locations while infectious:
– Yass Korean BBQ Buffet, 1/39 The Boulevarde, Strathfield on Tuesday 26 March, between 6:30pm and 10:00pm;
– Time Brasserie (restaurant/café), Shop 11, Level 1 Time Plaza Hurstville 127-137 Forest Rd Hurstville on Wednesday 27 March between 4:00pm and 5:30pm; and
– St George Hospital Emergency Department, 28a Gray St Kogarah on Saturday 30 March between 7:30pm and 11:00pm.

Also an 11 month old infant, who likely caught the infection in the Eastwood area.

The infant spent time at the following locations while infectious:
– Eastwood Plaza 152-160 Rowe St Eastwood, including play areas near Woolworths and on the first floor on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 of March;
– Castle Mall, 4-16 Terminus Street, Castle Hill, including play area on the Lower Ground floor on Tuesday 26 and Friday 29 March;
– The North Village 10-12 Hezlett Rd Kellyville on Wednesday 27, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 March; and
– North Village Family Practice, Shop S3 the North Village Kellyville, on Wednesday 27 at 12-1.15pm, Friday 29 5.30-6.30pm and Saturday 30 March 9 to 12pm.

Confirmed case in Victoria

There is another confirmed case of measles in a person who may have been infectious whilst attending multiple public areas across metropolitan Melbourne between Saturday 16 March and Monday 25 March 2019.

Saturday 16 March
Australian Grand Prix – Jones Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1

Sunday 17 March
12pm – 1pm
Woolworths Braybrook

Sunday 17 March
Day
Australian Grand Prix – Fangio Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1

Monday 18 March
1pm – 2pm
Woolworths Braybrook

Thursday 21 March
5am – 8am
QF1543 Brisbane to Canberra

Thursday 21 March
8am – 10am
QF809 Melbourne to Canberra

Thursday 21 March
10am – 11am
Melbourne Airport – Terminal 1

Thursday 21 March
10:30am – 11:30am
Skybus Airport Shuttle to Melbourne, Southern Cross Station

Thursday 21 March
11am – 11:30am
Southern Cross Station – Bus Terminal

Thursday 21 March
Day
Nomads All National Hostel – Spencer Street, Melbourne

Friday 22 March
Day
Nomads All National Hostel

Friday 22 March
9:00pm – 9:30pm
7-Eleven, 2 Spencer Street, Melbourne

Saturday 23 March

Nomads All National Hostel

Saturday 23 March
6pm – 7pm
Chemist Warehouse, Paramount Centre, Bourke Street, Melbourne

Sunday 24 March
Nomads All National Hostel

 Measles alert for Brisbane

QLD health have advised of another Measles alert for south Brisbane.

Locations the person visited while unknowingly infectious:
• 18 March: Brisbane Backpacker Resort, Vulture St West End
• 19 March: Brisbane Backpacker Resort and Coles Marketplace, West End (approximately 4pm)
• 20 March: Brisbane Backpacker Resort (until 3am 21 March)
• 21 March: Brisbane Airport (4:20am – 5:30am)
• 21 March: boarded Qantas Flight QF1543, departed Brisbane 5:29am arriving in Canberra 7:59am

The first case reported from Queensland Health was an adult man who was unknowingly infectious from 13 March to 21 March while visiting the following locations:

> The Sportsman Hotel, Spring Hill – 8-10.30pm Fri 15 March
> Ferny Grove train line Mitchelton to Brisbane Central Station – 1.30pm Sat 16 March
> Fitness First Gymnasium, Elizabeth St, Brisbane – 4pm-5.30pm Sun 17 March
> Palace Cinemas, James St, Fortitude Valley – 8.30pm-11pm Mon 18 March
> Discount Drug Stores, Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley – 10.30am – 11.30 am Tues 19 March and 10.30am – 11.30am Thurs 21 March

People who were in these locations on these dates should seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.

The initial symptoms of measles include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore and red eyes.

This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash. The rash often starts on the face then becomes widespread over the body. Contact your GP or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for more information.

Measles cases in Victoria

There is a confirmed case of measles in a person who may have been infectious whilst attending multiple public areas across metropolitan Melbourne between Saturday 16 March and Monday 18 March 2019, reports Vic Health.

The illness was acquired in the Northern Territory where there is currently an outbreak of measles.

The infectious person visited the below places:

Saturday 16 March – Australian Grand Prix – Jones Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1

Sunday 17 March, 12pm – 1pm – Woolworths Braybrook

Sunday 17 March –
Australian Grand Prix – Fangio Stand, Gate 2 entrance and food areas at Gate 1

Monday 18 March, 1pm – 2pm – Woolworths Braybrook

Previously on this story

Previously we shared that people who holidayed in Bali and visitors to the Sydney Opera House were among hundreds urged to look out for measles symptoms after a young woman and baby contracted the disease, shares news.com.au.

In one case, a woman aged in her 20s developed the measles rash after arriving in Sydney from Bali on Qantas flight QF44 about 6.30am on February 21.

Health officials are advising those on the flight, in the Sydney international terminal and visitors to the Opera House later that day to remain on the lookout for measles signs and symptoms until March 16.

The woman also stayed at the Langham Hotel on Kent St in Sydney last month.

Young Baby suffering confirmed case

A Sydney baby — too young to receive their routine measles vaccine — also developed the disease after arriving home from the Philippines.

While infectious the infant visited:
Macquarie Shopping Centre, Tuesday February 26, between 1pm and 2pm
My Health Macquarie, Friday March 1, 10:15am – 11:30am and Saturday March 2, 11:30am – 12pm
Macquarie Shopping Centre, Saturday March 2, between 9am and 12pm
Penny Lane Café, 1/31 Brighton St, Curl Curl, Sunday March 3, between 8am and 9am
Northern Beaches Hospital, Sunday March 3, between 12:40pm and 1:45pm

Those at risk should look out for symptoms until March 21.

The time from exposure to the onset of symptoms is between a week and 18 days. Symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.

QLD health also issue a public warning

Queensland health authorities have issued an alert to residents living in the Brisbane area after another measles case was identified, shares 9 news.

It is understood the infected person visited multiple locations on Brisbane’s south side between February 16 and 23.

– Victoria Point Mall, each afternoon on Saturday 16 February, Sunday 17 February, and Wednesday 20 of February.
– Norm Price Park, Redland Showgrounds, Cleveland on Saturday16 February between 5pm and 9pm.
– Aldi Supermarket, Victoria Point, on the afternoon of Sunday 17 February.
– Carmel College, Thornlands, on the Monday 18 February and Tuesday 19 February.
– Good Life Gym, Cleveland, on the afternoon of Monday 18 February.
– Princess Polly Warehouse Sale, Highland Park, Saturday 23 February between 8.20am and 2.30pm.

The alert marks the 32nd measles outbreak case around the country since Christmas, and the second in Queensland.

A person travelling back to Australia from South East Asia was identified as the state’s first case just two weeks ago after presenting to the Sunshine Coast Hospital on February 16.

Public urged to vaccinate NOW!

NSW Health urges everyone to ensure they are fully vaccinated before heading overseas. Infants under 12 months of age can receive their first measles vaccine as early as 9 months old to protect them when they travel.

“The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safe and effective protection against measles,” Dr Sheppeard said.

“It is free for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn’t already had two doses. If you’re unsure whether you’ve had two doses, it’s quite safe to have another.”

Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease.

Parents are terrified

Understandably parents of young children that are too young to receive their vaccination are concerned and reaching out for advice on how to keep their little ones safe.

One mum asked on Facebook how she could protect her five month old baby.

“Does anyone know how young you can vaccinate your baby for measles? All these outbreaks around Sydney are scaring me and the app says he is not scheduled to have it until 18 months, he is currently 5 months old.”

The mum was advised it was important to avoid touristy places and make sure her and husband were both up to date on the vaccine themselves.

NSW health advises infants under 12 months of age can receive their first measles vaccine as early as 9 months old to protect them when they travel.

It is always best to chat to your doctor if you are concerned.

Read more – Measles Vaccination Program to Target Adults

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