Measles alert issued for the Peninsula

NSW Health has issued a measles alert for the Peninsula after a tourist who visited Woy Woy and Umina over Christmas was diagnosed with the disease.

The tourist from Canberra visited the Peninsula between December 26 and 30 and made several visits to popular community locations including Jasmine Greens Kiosk, Umina Beach Shopping Centre and Deepwater Plaza.

According to NSW Health's communicable diseases director Dr Vicky Sheppeard, anyone who visited these locations at the same time should be aware of symptoms.

"The time from exposure to the disease to the onset of symptoms is typically about 10 days but can be as long as 18 days so people should be alert to symptoms until mid-January," Dr Sheppeard said.

The infection is highly contagious and can spread through coughing or sneezing.

Measles 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.

Infants under 12 months, who are too young to be vaccinated, and young adults are most likely to be susceptible to the infection, Dr Sheppeard said.

SOURCE:

Media statement, 2 Jan 2019

Dr Vicky Sheppeard, NSW Health