NSW Health is urging people planning to travel overseas to ensure they are protected against measles before they go, following two recent cases in travellers who returned from Bali.
The department stated that people in NSW born during or after 1966, who do not have evidence of having received two doses in the past, can access the free measles vaccine from their pharmacists (people over 12 years of age) and GPs (all ages).
Dr Christine Selvey, Director Communicable Diseases Branch NSW Health, said that as measles is highly infectious, anyone arriving from overseas who develops symptoms, is advised to contact their healthcare practitioner urgently to arrange testing, particularly those arriving from known areas of high risk for measles such as South-East and Southern Asia or Africa.
"Travellers who develop symptoms should call ahead to their healthcare professional or emergency department to ensure they don't wait in the waiting room with other patients," Dr Selvey explained.
People born prior to 1966 are likely to have had measles infection and are generally considered immune, stated NSW Health.
Those who are unsure of whether they have had two doses for measles should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe, explained NSW Health.
More information on measles can be found, HERE.
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