New measles alerts hit Western Sydney and Gold Coast as confirmed cases return from major outbreak area

Two measles alerts have been issued for Western Sydney and the Gold Coast on Thursday after confirmed cases in individuals who had recently returned from overseas.

The alert for Western Sydney came after an infected individual returned from Vietnam, a region currently experiencing a widespread outbreak of the potentially disease.

NSW Health said the patient attended Family Doctors Berala in Woodburn Rd on Saturday, January 18 between 10am and 11.15am.

Anyone who was at the same location during that time is advised to monitor for symptoms, although the location itself poses no ongoing risk.

The alert also clarified that the individual was not infectious during their flight.

“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after being exposed, so it’s important for people who visited this site at that time to look out for symptoms up until Wednesday February 5,” South Western Sydney local health district public health director Dr Mitchell Smith said.

On the same day, a separate measles alert was issued for the Gold Coast following the confirmation of a case in an individual who visited several locations while unknowingly infectious.

Gold Coast Public Health Unit said the person contracted measles overseas and arrived on the Gold Coast from Sydney via Qantas flight QF596 on January 17.

People at the following locations may have been exposed to the virus and should monitor for symptoms:

• Qantas flight QF596 from Sydney Domestic Airport to Gold Coast Airport, departing at 8.03pm (AEST) and arriving at 9.30pm (AEST).
• Gold Coast Airport between 9.30pm (AEST) and 10.15pm (AEST).

These two new cases follow a series of measles cases reported across the nation.

On January 18, a toddler with measles was reported to SA Health while 20 measles cases have been reported among Victorian residents in the 12 months to January 20.

At least two measles alerts were issued in NSW in December 2024.

Measles is one of the most contagious communicable diseases and spreads through tiny droplets from coughing and sneezing, Gold Coast Public Health Unit.

“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that starts on the head and face, then spreads to the rest of the body,” Smith said.

NSW Health is urging people to make sure their measles vaccinations are up to date.

“The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective,” NSW Health advises.

“It’s given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.”