Measles alert issued across northern Sydney after confirmed case from overseas
A new warning has been issued for Sydney after a person with a confirmed measles case returned from Indonesia, where virus outbreaks continue.
After the person returned to Australia, they were warned that they had shared a flight with someone else who was confirmed to be infected.
NSW Health has issued a warning for people living in Sydney’s north to monitor for symptoms if they visit certain locations.
“Symptoms to look out for include fever, eye pain, runny nose and cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, splotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body,” said Dr Sean Tobin from the North Sydney Local Health District.
“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear following exposure, so it is important for people visiting these locations to be alert for symptoms until January 18, 2026.”
A full list of locations and times is available on the NSW Health website but here is a condensed version:
Saturday 27 December 2025
- Train from Thornleigh Station to Epping Station, then bus from Epping Station to Macquarie Center around 11am
- Macquarie Center 12:00 – 19:00
- Mitzu Restaurant between 13:00 – 14:20
- Macquarie Center children’s playground from 14:20 to 16:00
- F&L Gourmet Restaurant between 17:00 – 19:00
S.today is 28 December 2025
- Storey Park playground, Asquith, 12.30pm – 2pm
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
- Waitara Oval 13:00 – 13:30.
- Jamie’s Kitchen and children’s playground, Waitara PCYC, 13:30 – 15:00
- Aldi Supermarket, Westfield Shopping Centre, Hornsby 2.45pm to 4.15pm
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital Emergency Department, at various times from 17.15 to 20.00
The World Health Organization says the virus “remains one of the most infectious respiratory viruses” we know of.
Approximately one in five children who contract the virus, which is particularly dangerous for children, are hospitalized and 10,000 people worldwide will die from it in 2024.
Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
However, it can be prevented with vaccines.
“We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent disease even after exposure if given early enough,” Dr Tobin said.
The NSW Department of Health is urging anyone born after 1965 to have two rounds of vaccination and is reminding people that additional doses are safe if they are unsure if they have had one or two rounds of vaccination.
Dr Tobin said the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was “safe and effective and is given free of charge to children aged 12 and 18 months”.
NSW Health also reminded anyone planning to travel abroad to make sure their vaccinations are up to date.
