A measles alert has been issued for locations on the Sunshine Coast after a person with the highly infectious disease visited the region.
The Metro North Public Health Unit declared the alert after a confirmed case in an adult, who recently arrived from overseas, on Brisbane’s northside.
The person was unknowingly infectious as they travelled around Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast from Wednesday, April 2, to Saturday, April 5, visiting several businesses and locations.
The person caught the Nambour train from Brisbane’s Central Station to Beerwah Station on Friday, April 4, leaving at 7.07am and arriving at 8.27am. They were at Australia Zoo between 8.30am and 5pm, before catching the Springfield train from Beerwah Station to Central Station, leaving at 5.03pm and arriving at 6.26pm. An alert has also been issued for locations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast (see full list below).
These locations do not pose an ongoing risk to people.
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Metro North Public Health physician Dr Alexandra Uren said anyone who was at these locations during these times should monitor themselves for symptoms for 18 days from when they may have had contact.
“If they do develop symptoms, they should seek medical advice,” she said.
“Early symptoms of measles include a fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose and red, inflamed eyes. Those symptoms then progress to a blotchy red rash, which often starts on the face before becoming widespread.
“Measles symptoms typically start between seven and 18 days after infection.
“Anyone seeking treatment for an illness they think could be measles should call ahead before visiting their GP or medical practice to allow precautions to be taken that can prevent the illness spreading to others.”
Queensland Health recommended that anyone born in 1966 or after who has not had two documented doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, or had proven measles, should visit their doctor to get vaccinated for measles. The MMR vaccine is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age as part of the National Immunisation Program.
Further information on measles is available on the Queensland Health website.
Measles alert for following locations
Gold Coast
- Yo-chi, 11/3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 2 April, between 10:15am and 11am
- Cotton On, 27 Cahill Ave, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 2 April, between 11am and 12:30pm
- Ghanda Clothing, 25 Cahill Ave Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 2 April between 11am and 12:30pm
- Holey Moley Mini Golf – Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 2 April, between 2:15pm and 3:45pm
- Bunk Hostel, 6 Beach Rd Surfers Paradise, all day Wednesday 2 April and until 10am on Thursday 3 April
- Goldies, 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 2 April between 6:45pm and 8pm.
Brisbane
- Bunk Hostel, 21 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley on Thursday 3 April and until 7am on Friday 4th April
- Brooki Bakehouse, 15 Marshall Street, Fortitude Valley on Thursday 3 April between 12pm and 12:30pm
- Sushi Hub, 136 Queen Street Brisbane on Thursday 3 April between 1:30pm and 2pm
- Cotton On, Queen Adelaide Building 90/90 Queen Street, Brisbane on Thursday 3 April between 2pm and 3:10pm
- Central Station Brisbane on Friday 4 April between 6:45am and 7:30am
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Emergency Department waiting room on Friday 4 April between 7:45pm and 11:00pm.
Sunshine Coast
- Nambour train from Central Station Brisbane to Beerwah Station, on Friday 4 April, leaving 7:07am and arriving at 8:27am
- Springfield train from Beerwah Station to Central Station Brisbane on Friday 4 April, leaving 5:03pm and arriving 6:26pm
- Australia Zoo on Friday 4 April, between 8:30am and 5pm.
