Measles Alert Issued After Positive Case Visits St Clair Pharmacy and Nepean Hospital

People who visited a pharmacy in St Clair last Wednesday and Nepean Hospital’s Emergency Department over the weekend have been told to be on the lookout for symptoms of measles. It has been confirmed a person with a confirmed case of measles visited the Priceline Pharmacy at St Clair between 3pm and 4pm on Wednesday, January 14. And the same person was at the Nepean Hospital Emergency Department from 7.50pm on Friday, January 16 until 7.40pm on Saturday, January 17. The locations pose no ongoing risk. People who were in the locations during the above times are being told to watch out for symptoms until early February. “If symptoms develop, see your doctor or health service (including emergency department). Call ahead to let them know that you may have come into contact with measles, so you don’t spend time in waiting rooms with other patients,” said Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Public Health Specialist, Dr Alvis Zibran. “Symptoms to watch out for include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body. “It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms for this period.” Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes. “We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough,” Zibran said. “This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious. “Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.” The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.