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NSW measles outbreak spreads to another major city

The NSW measles outbreak has spread to another major city in the state, with a new case discovered in Newcastle.

NSW Health confirmed a person had contracted the disease while travelling overseas in India, and are urging hundreds of passengers on an international flight from Singapore to monitor for symptoms of the highly infectious disease.

Symptoms can take up to 18 days to appear, and include a fever, runny nose and cough, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

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Former winner Singapore Airlines came in second place this year.

The person who contracted measles was travelling on Singapore Airlines flight SQ211 from Singapore to Sydney on Monday, March 30. The flight arrived at around 8.14pm.

Passengers on the flight have been told to monitor for any symptoms until Friday April 17.

The infected person also visited John Hunter Hospital's emergency department in Newcastle on three separate occasions, on April 1, April 2 and April 6.

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The person with measles went to the emergency department at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle three times.

People who were in the emergency department in these times may have to monitor for symptoms until April 24, but NSW Health insists the locations to not pose a current risk to people.

The latest outbreak of measles in New South Wales, which began in January, has now grown to 42 people in both Sydney and Wollongong.

Many cases have been from returned travellers who have been in Asia, but NSW Health has warned some cases have been acquired from spreading within the community.

Health experts are urging people to stay up to date with their vaccinations.

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Measles morbillivirus structure - 3d rendered image. Abstract background.

"Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes," Dr David Durrheim said.

"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."

The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is free for children at 12 and 18 months of age, and is also given to anyone in the state born after 1965 who hasn't received both doses.

"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," Durreigh added.

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