Measles Alert Issued For Sydney Airport & Western Sydney

NSW Health has issued a measles alert after an infected international passenger landed in Sydney just before the new year.

The individual had recently returned from South-East Asia, where countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand are experiencing outbreaks of the disease.

The person was onboard flight GA712 from Jakarta to Sydney, which arrived in Sydney at 10.45am on Saturday, December 27. They were in the Sydney Airport International Arrivals Hall from 10.45am to noon on the same day, and then the Blacktown Hospital emergency waiting room from noon on December 29 to 6am on December 30.

Western Sydney Local Health District acting director of public health Dr Conrad Moreira said those who visited the locations at the same time as the infected traveller should monitor for symptoms, which include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body.

“If symptoms develop, see your doctor or health service, including emergency department,” he said.

“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.

“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 until January 17, 2026.”

Importance of vaccinations highlighted

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,” Dr Moreira 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.”