<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydneysiders have been warned that measles is probably circulating through the city, more than 10 years after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> eliminated the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> Health said today that someone has caught the virus in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>, even though they had not been overseas and hadn't been at any of the known exposure sites in the city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because authorities don't know where the person caught the disease, they said it's probably spreading through the local community.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-court-nrl-star-payne-haas-mum-uiatu-joan-taufua-mental-health-defence-over-triple-fatal-crash/48827ce1-6c2f-4bba-be32-71f93aa59367"><strong><span>NRL star's mum to claim mental health defence over crash that killed three people</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With the source of the infection unknown, it is likely measles is currently circulating within the community, and other people may have been unknowingly exposed to measles," NSW Health said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents have been told to check they are up to date with their vaccinations, and to keep on the alert for symptoms of the disease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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 public health director Dr Mitchell Smith said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/measles-likely-spreading-community-sydney-nsw-health-warning/6ae681fd-251f-4228-a69e-4b6598840b47" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure. It's important for people to stay vigilant and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trucking-companies-facing-tough-times/3c45419a-4b63-4835-8065-d3b641aaa4b3"><strong><span>Warning entire industry critical for Australian economy on the brink of collapse</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The warning comes a week after NSW Health warned someone with the disease had been at Oasis' sold-out concert in Sydney on Saturday, November 8, as well as a Jelly Roll gig in Brisbane on October 24.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases, and can lead to severe and deadly complications, including pneumonia and acute encephalitis, or brain inflammation. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Australian Centre for Disease Control, nine out of ten people who are near an infected person will catch the disease themselves, whether through direct contact, coughing or sneezing, or even just breathing in the same air.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the measles vaccine – which is free in Australia for 12- and 18-month-olds – is both safe and extremely effective against the virus, providing long-term protection against infection in 99 per cent of people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the World Health Organisation, the vaccine saved almost 32 million lives between 2000 and 2020.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine," Smith said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uber-driver-pay-ride-transparency-petition-exclusive/cd63986a-6e37-4264-82c3-50560343ab85"><strong><span>Aussies are being forced to accept jobs with no clue what they'll be paid</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn't already had two doses…</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vaccination helped eliminate measles in many countries in the past few decades, including Australia in 2014.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, growing anti-vaccine sentiment has led to outbreaks of the disease across the globe. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Canada, for example, was declared measles-free in 1998 but has now lost that status and is currently battling thousands of cases, while the number of infections in the United States is growing towards 2000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/measles/Pages/public-exposure-locations.aspx" rel="" target="" title="full list of exposure sites in NSW can be seen here"><span>full list of exposure sites in NSW can be seen here</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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