Sydney, Oct 2 (NationPress) Health officials in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, issued a measles alert for the northern regions of Sydney after a confirmed case was reported, who was infectious while visiting multiple sites.

NSW Health confirmed that the individual visited five locations across Sydney's northern beaches, including a supermarket, restaurant, café, and pharmacy, while being contagious on the dates of September 25 and 27.

This case is linked as a close contact to a previously reported measles case in northern Sydney, according to officials.

Individuals who were at the same locations during the same timeframe are advised to watch for symptoms until mid-October.

Michael Staff, the Director of Public Health for the Northern Sydney Local Health District, highlighted that symptoms to be aware of include fever, sore eyes, and coughing, which can be followed by a rash that starts at the head and neck and spreads across the body.

Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) reveals that Australia has seen 130 confirmed measles cases in 2025 thus far, surpassing the total from the previous five years combined.

Among the reported cases, 64 involved individuals aged 20-34, while another 17 were children aged 0-4.

Staff emphasized that this alert serves as a reminder for everyone to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Measles is an extremely contagious viral disease. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, and can lead to severe health complications and even death.

While measles can affect anyone, it predominantly impacts children.

The virus begins by infecting the respiratory tract and subsequently spreads throughout the body. Observable symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a full-body rash.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles infection and its transmission. The vaccine is safe and equips your body to combat the virus.

Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, widespread outbreaks occurred every two to three years, resulting in an estimated 2.6 million deaths annually.

In 2023, around 107,500 individuals succumbed to measles, predominantly children under five, despite the existence of a safe and affordable vaccine.

Symptoms of measles typically start 10-14 days post-exposure to the virus, with the rash being the most prominent sign.

Initial symptoms last for about 4-7 days and include: runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks.

The rash generally emerges 7-18 days after exposure, initially appearing on the face and upper neck, spreading over about three days to the hands and feet, and usually lasts 5-6 days before fading.