Bold warning: measles is resurging in NSW, with new locally acquired cases and travel-related infections spreading across multiple regions. Here’s what you need to know, in plain terms.
NSW Health has reported four new measles cases across the state. Three of these are locally acquired, meaning the infections originated in NSW rather than abroad. Two of the locally acquired cases are linked to earlier NSW cases; the source of the third local case is still under investigation. The fourth case involves a traveler who recently returned from South East Asia, where measles outbreaks are ongoing.
All four individuals visited several locations in NSW while they were unknowingly contagious. Exposure sites span healthcare facilities and areas in northern, southeastern, and southwestern Sydney, as well as the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, western NSW, and the Mid North Coast. These locations are not considered to pose an ongoing risk at this time, but they are important for people who may have been exposed to monitor.
There is currently an elevated risk of measles in NSW, with 14 confirmed cases since 1 January 2026."
Dr Christine Selvey, Director of Communicable Diseases NSW, urges anyone who has visited the listed exposure sites during the specified times to watch for symptoms and seek care promptly if they appear. If you develop symptoms and have been at one of the exposure sites, contact your doctor or an emergency department in advance to inform them you may have measles, so you’re not waiting among other patients.
Typical symptoms to watch include fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and coughing. Three to four days after these initial signs, a red, blotchy rash usually appears and spreads from the head to the rest of the body.
If you notice early symptoms and then develop a rash a few days later, you should consider measles and get tested, even if you weren’t at any of the identified locations. It can take up to 18 days after exposure for symptoms to show, so monitor for the entire window.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The best defense is up-to-date vaccination. If given early after exposure, the measles vaccine can still prevent illness.
Key vaccination reminders:
- Anyone born after 1965 should have two doses of the measles vaccine. This is especially important before traveling overseas, as outbreaks are reported in multiple regions.
- The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is free for children at 12 and 18 months in Australia. It’s also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t completed two doses.
- If a child under 12 months is traveling overseas, they can receive a first MMR dose up to six months early; check with a GP.
- If you’re unsure whether you’ve had two doses, you should still get vaccinated—additional doses are safe and recommended, particularly before travel. MMR is available from GPs for all ages and from pharmacies for people over 5 years old.
For travel-related guidance and current health risk information, visit the Australian Government Smart Traveller website at https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/. If you or a loved one experiences measles symptoms or has questions, contact your GP or Healthdirect at 1800 022 222.
This information is shared for public awareness and may reflect time-sensitive updates. For the full official release and details, see the linked source."
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