Liverpool West Public School

High Expectations, Opportunities, Success

Telephone02 8784 3500

Emailliverpoolw-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Measles Alert

An infectious disease alert was issued by NSW Health, notifying the public of the outbreak and recent locations visited by those affected by the virus. NSW Health is urging people to take advantage of the free measles vaccine, available at GPs, and to look out for measles symptoms.


Now that students have returned for Term 2, schools should ensure that they are aware of the symptoms of measles and notify their local Public Health Unit if a student or staff member is diagnosed with the virus.


Symptoms to watch for include:

  • Fever
  • Sore eyes
  • Cough
  • Following fever, sore eyes and cough - a red, blotchy rash typically spreading from the neck to the rest of the body that follows three to four days later.

Measles is mostly spread by coughing and sneezing. Students and staff who have been in close proximity to individuals with measles should be monitored, and consult with a doctor if they are showing signs of any of the symptoms mentioned above.


If a school is informed that a student or staff member has contracted measles, the following should be done:

  • Notify the local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
  • Individuals who have measles should not attend school. If a student has measles and comes to school, their parent or caregiver should be contacted and they should be sent home.
  • Communication procedures should be put in place to notify parents and caregivers and urge them to check that their child has received the necessary measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • Ensure that infection control procedures are followed. These should be in place at all times, however when there is a suspected outbreak of an infectious condition such as measles, they are particularly important.
  • Notify the department through the Incident Report and Support Hotline on 1800 811 523 if there is a suspected outbreak, i.e. if many students and/or employees are absent and appear to have similar symptoms.

For more information, please read NSW Health's measles fact sheet or contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.

 

Measles Fact Sheet (pdf 106 KB)