Tag Archives: oceania

Highly infectious disease circulating in Sydney as outbreak grows

Health authorities in Sydney admit measles is most likely circulating in the community after a person became infected despite not visiting any previous exposure sites.

NSW Health confirmed a person in south-west Sydney contracted the highly infectious disease, but they do not know the source of that person's infection, they said in a statement today. 

This brings the number of current measles cases in New South Wales this year to 22.

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NEWS: Campbelltown Hospital generics. 5th August 2021, Photo: Wolter Peeters, The Sydney Morning Herald.

The person visited Fresh & Hot Restaurant in Wolli Creek, and several health facilities in Campbeltown and Gregory Hills between Sunday, February 22nd, and Wednesday, February 25th.

This includes the emergency department at Campbeltown Hospital on two separate occasions.

Many of the exposure sites in the state are centred around Sydney's CBD and the Inner West, as well as pockets of the North Shore and Western Sydney.

"This person has had no known contact with anyone else with measles," NSW Health said.

"It is likely measles is currently circulating within the community, and other people may have been unknowingly exposed to measles."

UPDATE: Teens charged after man allegedly stabbed with machete at Bondi Beach

People who were at these exposure sites are being told to monitor for symptoms until March 15th, as they can take 18 days to appear

"Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body," South Western Sydney Local Health District's Dr Stephen Conaty said

"Anyone with early symptoms who gets a rash a few days later should also think about measles, even if they haven't attended one of the identified locations, and seek testing."

Cases of measles have also been detected in other parts of the state, including Lismore, as well as other parts of Australia.

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Measles viral disease, human skin covered with measles rash, vaccination concept

Victoria issued an official warning last week that said there was an increased risk of measles statewide, especially in Melbourne.

Conaty urged residents in New South Wales to stay up to date with their vaccinations, with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine effective in protecting individuals from contracting the disease.

"Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough," he said.

A full list of exposure sites in New South Wales can be found here.

Latest music festival cancellation highlights growing trend in Australia

The cancellation of the Rolling Loud music festival just a week before it was due to take place is the latest in a long line of cancellations that have hit Australia's music industry.

The global hip hop festival announced its shows in Sydney and Melbourne on March 7 and March 8 would not go ahead.

It is another blow for music fans who have become accustomed to their favourite festivals being cancelled in recent years.

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Festival visitors enter one of the main entrances during day one of the Byron Bay Bluesfest on April 14, 2022 in Byron Bay, Australia. The music festival returns after a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the start of last year, multiple major music festivals have been cancelled across the country, with rising costs being a similar theme in all of them.

This included Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Groovin' the Moo, Good Life and Splendour in the Grass.

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Changing Tides has been cancelled less than a month out from the music festival, with organisers confirming there will be no future events.

Spilt Milk, often held in Canberra and other cities around Australia, suffered a shock cancellation in 2024, but was able to return in 2025.

Reports from Creative Australia cite rising operational costs, a lack of funding, and insurance costs as pressures squeezing organisers and festival goers. However, some governments have acted.

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Lost Paradise was once of five festivals to receive a boost in funding from the NSW government last year.

Last year, the NSW government handed a $2 million grant to five major festivals, Bluesfest, Lost Paradise, Yours and Owls, Listen Out and Field Day.

Each received around $500,000, and it allowed Field Day to go ahead last year, and has allowed Bluesfest to plan a return this year.

A poll of nine.com.au readers found around 42% per cent of 434 respondents believed governments needed to invest more in live music, including festivals, with around 39 per cent admitting they were "somewhat concerned" about the future of festivals overall.

The poll came just days after Park Waves, a metal festival supposed to take place this month, was cancelled.

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Teens charged after man allegedly stabbed with machete at Bondi Beach

Two teens have been charged after a 54-year-old man was allegedly stabbed with a machete at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Gould Street and Glasgow Avenue at Bondi Beach at about 9.15pm yesterday.

The victim had been stabbed in the upper body.

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Police are investigating if the victim and the teens had a row over an e-bike.Two teenage boys have been arrested after a stabbing in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

Police were told the 54-year-old engaged in an argument with a boy riding an e-bike, which escalated.

The boy allegedly fled and later returned with another teen, allegedly armed with a weapon.

The pair stabbed the victim police say, before fleeing again.

He was treated by paramedics before being rushed to St Vincent Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police arrested two boys, aged 15 and 17, on Glenayr Avenue at Bondi Beach and took them to Surry Hills Police Station.

The pair were charged with multiple offences, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, using a prohibited weapon without a permit and breaching bail.

They were refused bail and will appear in court today.

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