NSW Health declares increased measles risk as new cases emerge across Sydney

Two new confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Sydney, with NSW Health declaring there is an increased risk of exposure.

The cases who were unknowingly infected visited several locations in western Sydney, the inner west and Sydney CBD.

One of the cases caught the measles through a listed exposure site in Sydney earlier this month.

The second case had recently returned from South East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries.

Sydney exposure sites include both domestic and international airport terminals.

In NSW, the number of exposure sites now sits at 59.

Twenty-one cases of measles have been confirmed in NSW since January 1, 2026.

“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms for this period,” NSW Health director of communicable diseases Christine Selvey said.

“Importantly, we want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough.

“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.”

Measles is airborne and highly infectious and is spread when an infectious person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms include fever-like conditions, such as a runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough, and are usually followed days later by a red and blotchy rash that can spread from the head to the rest of the body.