NSW Health has issued an urgent measles alert for metropolitan Sydney as two new cases were confirmed, bringing NSW’s total since December to eleven and signaling a likely rise with travel and holidays.

Public exposure sites are listed on NSW Health’s website; people who may have been exposed should review those locations and times, monitor for symptoms, and contact a doctor or ED with prior notice if exposure is suspected.

Common measles symptoms to watch include fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough, followed by a red blotchy rash typically appearing three to four days after symptoms begin.

Measles spreads via airborne droplets and can be contagious one day before symptoms, so authorities emphasize avoiding crowded exposure and getting vaccinated as a preventive measure.

Two local hospital visits by infectious individuals—Nepean Hospital ED and Concord Repatriation Hospital ED—along with a Priceline Pharmacy in St Clair being noted as exposure sites, have prompted monitoring of symptom watch periods.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 99% lifelong protection, and vaccination can also be protective if given early after exposure.

Those at higher risk for severe measles complications include children under five who are unvaccinated, adults with incomplete vaccination, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.

Vaccination is strongly encouraged for travelers due to ongoing outbreaks abroad; NSW provides the MMR vaccine free to eligible individuals at 12 and 18 months of age.

Authorities warn that returning travelers may introduce additional cases, noting outbreaks in several nearby countries and urging vaccination as a preventive measure.

One locally acquired case stems from an earlier known case in Sydney, with another linked to recent travel from Southeast Asia, prompting alerts across multiple locations.

Public health officials remind people to monitor symptoms and seek medical advice if exposure or illness occurs, with a focus on timely recognition of fever, respiratory symptoms, and rash.

New exposure locations and monitoring periods include specific timestamps at Nepean Hospital ED, Priceline Pharmacy St Clair, and Concord Repatriation Hospital ED, with watch periods extending into February.