Urgent health warning for dozens of Aussies as entire FLIGHT is put on high alert for infectious disease
Potential exposure sites include a Garuda Indonesia flight, Australia's busiest airport and a major hospital emergency department waiting room in Sydney's west.
By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 03:59 GMT, 31 December 2025 | Updated: 03:59 GMT, 31 December 2025
An urgent health warning has been issued for dozens of Aussie travellers after a traveller returned from southeast Asia with the measles.
Potential exposure sites include a Garuda Indonesia flight, Australia's busiest airport and a major hospital emergency department waiting room in Sydney's west.
The infected traveller returned on flight GA712 from Jakarta on December 27, which touched down in Sydney at 10.45am.
They were in the international airport arrivals hall until midday.
Two days later, the patient spent 18 hours in the waiting room at Blacktown Hospital's emergency department, from midday on December 29 until 6am the following day.
Health authorities have urged anyone who was on the flight or visited the arrivals hall or Blacktown Hospital at the listed times to remain vigilant for symptoms, which can take up to 18 days to develop.
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.
Complications include pneumonia and encephalitis, the inflammation of the brain.
The infected traveller returned on flight GA712 from Jakarta on December 27, which touched down in Sydney at 10.45am (pictured, Sydney International Airport)
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
'It's important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms until January 17,' Western Sydney Local Health District Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Conrad Moreira said.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with droplets from the nose or mouth.
A measles vaccine is available and can prevent the disease, even after exposure if given early enough.