International traveller returning to the country sparks urgent public health warning for Australia's biggest city

Published: 13:57, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 14:02, 22 June 2026 An urgent health warning has been issued across inner-city Sydney after a traveller returned from Southeast Asia with measles and visited several locations.  NSW Health said the person attended some venues across Potts Point, Darlinghurst and the Sydney CBD while unknowingly infectious. They dropped by over ten venues including Potts Point Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Original Backpackers Hostel, Terry Whites Chemart Kings Cross, Coles Central Kings Cross, Maryane Hair and Beaute, St Vincent's Hospital ED and Savvy Hair Boutique and Kings Brew between June 16 and 20.  For a full list of locations and times, visit, the NSW Health website. Measles is highly contagious and usually spreads through breathing in the virus after an infected person has coughed or sneezed.  South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Physician Anthea Katelaris urged anyone who may have been there during the exposure period to monitor for signs and symptoms of measles.  'If symptoms develop and you've been at one of the locations at the time listed on the website, see your doctor or health service, including an emergency department,' she said. 'Call ahead to let them know that you may have come into contact with measles so you don't spend time in waiting rooms with other patients.' An urgent health warning has been issued across inner Sydney after a traveller with measles visited several locations NSW Health said the person attended some venues across Potts Point, Darlinghurst and the Sydney CBD while unknowingly infectious She said symptoms 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'. '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,' she said.  '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.' Pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, and infants are deemed to be at a higher risk.   Dr Katelaris reminded people to keep up to date with their vaccinations.  'Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough,' she said.  '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.'  More than 50 measles cases have been confirmed in the state since January. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.