If you visited a restaurant in Sydney's CBD, picked up pastries in Alexandria, or attended the emergency department at Lismore Base Hospital in recent weeks, NSW Health wants you to pay close attention. Two newly confirmed measles cases have led authorities to identify six exposure sites across Sydney and northern NSW, with warnings issued on Wednesday for anyone who may have been at those locations at the same time.
According to NSW Health, both individuals were unknowingly infectious when they visited the sites. One case is believed to have contracted measles from a previously confirmed patient at an earlier listed exposure site in February. The second case had recently returned from South East Asia, where measles outbreaks continue to affect several countries.
Where and when: the exposure sites
Here's what you need to know about the specific locations and times flagged by health authorities:
- Tuga Pastries, Alexandria, from 8.30am to 9.30am on 18 February
- Bistecca, Sydney CBD, from 2.15pm to 4.30pm on 19 February
- Vini Divini Wine Bar, Sydney CBD, from 4.30pm to 8pm on 19 February
- Rivaereno Gelato, Barangaroo, from 7.40pm to 8.30pm on 19 February
- Stinking Bishops Restaurant and Deli, from 7pm to 9pm on 20 February
- Lismore Base Hospital Emergency Department, from 5.15pm to 6.20pm and 10.45pm to 11.20pm on 21 February
Anyone present at these locations during the listed times should monitor themselves for symptoms for 18 days from the date of their visit.
What to look for
Measles typically begins with fever, a runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough. Several days into the illness, a red, blotchy rash usually appears on the head and face before spreading down the body. The progression from early symptoms to rash is a key signal, and health authorities are urging anyone who experiences this pattern to seek testing, even if they did not attend one of the named sites.
"Anyone with early symptoms who gets a rash a few days later should also think about measles, even if they haven't attended one of the identified locations, and seek testing," said NSW Health director of communicable diseases Christine Selvey. "We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough."
If you do develop symptoms, health authorities ask that you call ahead before visiting a GP or hospital so that appropriate precautions can be taken on arrival. This protects other patients, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
Who is most at risk
NSW Health has identified several groups who should contact a local Public Health Unit as a priority. These include pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and parents of infants who may have been exposed within the past six days. Anyone who is unvaccinated and believes they were at an exposure site is urged to contact a Public Health Unit within three days.
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known, and Australia's immunisation programme has historically kept it well under control. The National Immunisation Program provides two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and two doses offer around 97 per cent protection. For most Australians who received both doses in childhood, the risk from these exposure sites is low. The concern centres on those who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, a group that remains significant enough to sustain small chains of transmission when cases are imported from overseas.
International travel continues to be the primary pathway by which measles enters Australia. With ongoing outbreaks across parts of South East Asia, health authorities have been flagging elevated risk for travellers returning from the region throughout the summer. Checking your vaccination records before travel, and seeking catch-up doses if needed, remains the most effective individual precaution available. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, your GP can check your records through the Australian Immunisation Register.
The short version: if you were at any of the listed locations at the listed times, start monitoring your health today and know what symptoms to watch for. If you are unsure whether you are vaccinated, now is a reasonable time to find out.