NSW health authorities have issued official warnings following a measles outbreak on the state’s north coast.

Two young travellers appear to have acquired the disease while holidaying in the Philippines earlier this year before returning to the Gold Coast via Singapore.

NSW Health has issued a warning for people who were on Scoot flight TR6, which departed Singapore on Friday 29 March and arrived at Coolangatta International airport at 8.10am on Saturday 30.

The travellers also reportedly spent time at shops in the town of Pottsville and a medical centre in Murwillumbah before being admitted to the emergency department of Tweed Hospital.

Greg Bell, Acting Director of Public Health for the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts, said there is no ongoing risk at the locations, but people who were there at the same time as the travellers should be aware.

“The local public health unit is working with the medical centre and hospital to contact other patients who were present at the same time as the infectious people and offer preventive treatment as appropriate,” Mr Bell said.

“Anyone who develops symptoms should call ahead to their GP to ensure they’re not in the waiting room with other patients.”

It can take up to 18 days for measle symptoms to appear, which include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the body.

Mr Bell said preventative vaccine injections can be given to highly-susceptible people for several days after exposure to measles.

“The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safe and effective protection against measles,” Mr Bell said.

“It’s free for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn’t already had two doses. If you’re unsure whether you’ve had two doses, it’s safe to have another.”

The travellers spent time in the following areas while infectious:

Saturday 30 March;

  • Scoot flight TR6, which departed Singapore on Friday 29 March and arrived at Coolangatta International Airport at 8:10am
  • Travelled from Coolangatta International Airport to Pottsville via Uber

Tuesday 2 April;

  • Visited shops in Pottsville and Cabarita, including IGA at Pottsville and Woolworths at Cabarita

Wednesday 3 April;

  • Attended a Main Street Medical centre in Murwillumbah
  • The Tweed Hospital Emergency Department

Thursday 4 April;

  • The Tweed Hospital Emergency Department

NSW Government health alerts are accessible here.