Measles warning after infected pair travel to Coast
GOLD COASTERS and those on the northern coast of NSW have been warned to be alert for signs of measles following an outbreak of the highly contagious disease.
The NSW State Government has issued warnings after two young travellers became infected with the viral illness.
The travellers likely acquired the infection while holidaying in the Philippines in mid-March and were unwell and infectious during their return flights to the Gold Coast via Singapore.
The pair were infectious when they landed at Coolangatta Airport at 8:10am on Saturday March 30 on Scoot flight TR6. The infected individuals then travelled from the airport to Pottsville via Uber on Tuesday April 2, where they visited shops in Pottsville and Cabarita, including IGA at Pottsville and Woolworths at Cabarita.
On Wednesday April 3 they attended a Main St Medical centre in Murwillumbah and then the Tweed Hospital Emergency Department.
They were also present at
the Tweed Hospital ED the following day, Thursday April 4.
The North Coast Public Health Unit is urging people who were on the Scoot flight TR6 and at the same locations as the travellers to be alert for symptoms of measles until April 22.
It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear following exposure to a person with measles.
Greg Bell, acting director of public health for the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts, said while those locations do not pose an ongoing risk, people who may be susceptible to measles and were there on the same days, should contact their local public health unit..