Australian tourist gives New York a health scare

Fleet of yellow taxi cabs make their way down the street of Broadway in New York City in view from above

Bloody Australians, always getting up to no good overseas.

This time, it’s a little more serious than our usual loud, drunken larikin behaviour we’re known and loved for.

An Australian tourist, who was confirmed to be carrying measles, may have been spreading their germs throughout New York City.

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The New York State Department of Health says the contaminated Aussie visited numerous hotels and the Metropolitan Museum of Art between February 16 to 21.

Measles is notoriously contagious for people who have not been immunised, with a 90 per cent infection rate for those near the carrier, says the Centres for Disease Control and prevention.

The ABC reports the virus can stay alive in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after the carrier leaves the area.

The Department of Health is warning anyone who visited La Quinta Inn, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Watchtower Educational Center, the Best Western Hotel, Comfort Inn & Suites Goshen, Excel Urgent Care and Orange Regional Medical Center who has not been immunised should contact their doctor if they develop any symptoms including fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or a runny nose.

According to the Washington Post, nine out of 10 kids in the US receive measles vaccines with effectiveness rates of above 90 per cent.

The news is a bit of a big deal, considering New York’s population density and the Australian’s visits to hotels and probably the subway and cabs.

Looks like Australians have become more of an international nuisance than usual.

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