Visitors to Wollongong Hospital, Dapto Mall and Warrawong Plaza on certain dates in early January are among those being warned to look out for symptoms of measles.
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The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has issued a public alert after an adult, who contracted the highly contagious disease overseas, visited a number of public areas while infectious and unaware they had it.
ISLHD Acting Director Public Health Diane Lovatt said that advice was being given to people who were in close contact with the person.
A general warning was also being issued to anyone that visited Wollongong Hospital on January 6; Dapto Mall on January 7 or 8; Club Lime Gym on January 8 and Warrawong Plaza on January 12.
‘’We’d like to reassure members of the public that the facilities and businesses listed above are in no way at fault and it is safe to continue to visit these places,’’ Ms Lovatt said.
‘’Those people who have not received two doses of measles vaccine and may have come into contact with the infected adult should be alert to the symptoms of measles in the coming days and weeks.’’
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. Measles can have serious complications, particularly for young children.
‘’The measles virus is highly contagious and is spread through the air by someone who is unwell with the disease, including via coughing and sneezing,’’ ,” Ms Lovatt said.
‘’If you develop the symptoms of measles, seek medical advice. Please call ahead to your GP or emergency department so that arrangements can be made to keep you away from others to minimise the risk of infection.’’
She said a highly effective measles vaccine was freely available and it is vital for everyone, including adults and children, to have two doses of the measles vaccine during their lifetime.