Alarm bells over measles

NORTHERN NSW Local Health District has rubbished claims a child covered in measles attended Tweed Hospital and also caused an evacuation.

However, a spokesperson warned two cases linked to the North Coast XPT trains had been confirmed last week and that people in northern NSW should remain alert.

Talking on social media, one woman said “cases of measles walked into the emergency department” and she urged people in Tweed to “be super careful”.

“Evacuated temporarily. Poor little one was just covered in it.

“I was seated waiting for a doctor and it looked horrific,” she said.

“Another case arrived and doctors came outside to assess before they were brought in.”

The woman said “doctors in protective gear instructed us to get out of the ward while they brought them into isolation”.

The post from Saturday has disappeared and it is not known shared.

The spokesperson said “there have been no confirmed cases of measles” at the hospital, but a family had been assessed on Saturday. He advised those in the region to “remain alert for signs and symptoms”.

Measles presents a particular threat in Northern NSW, due to the relatively low immunisation rates.

The latest Annual Immunisation Coverage Report showed 92 per cent of fiveyear-olds have been vaccinated, how widely it was compared to 95 per cent statewide.

However, statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate parts of the region have far lower rates.

Up to 60 per cent of fiveyear-olds in Mullumbimby were not fully immunised, compared to 4.5 per cent across the country in 2016-17, ranging to 30 per cent in Byron Bay.

Meanwhile, the health district has issued renewed warnings about measles.

New cases could arise in relation to North Coast XPT trains on April 5 and 6 and “this includes the Casino to Brisbane bus”.

The director of the North Coast Public Health Unit, Paul Corben, said people who were on the trains “may have been exposed” to two cases of measles. The people confirmed to have contracted measles “travelled while infectious”.

The first was on the 7.08am North Coast XPT from Sydney to Maitland, arriving at 10am on April 5. The second was on April 6, when the person caught the 7.08am XPT from Sydney, transferred to the coach service 175 at Casino and arrived in Brisbane at 9.45pm.

Mr Corben warned anyone on the trips “could still develop symptoms up until April 24”.

Anyone who develops symptoms should call their GP immediately.

In NSW there have been 36 cases of measles since Christmas. Symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, spotty rash spreading from the head and neck to the body.