Ill traveller sparks alert on measles

A MEASLES alert has been issued for Brisbane and the Gold Coast after an infected Victorian traveller visited Queensland’s southeast.

Queensland Health said the person travelled to Brisbane from Melbourne on Jetstar flight JQ57 on September 22.

The patient then spent two days at Kangaroo Point, south Brisbane, before heading to the Gold Coast.

At the Gold Coast, the patient visited a Broadbeach medical centre on September 26 and Robina Hospital on September 28.

Various shops and cafes at Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads were also visited.

Health officials are warning people in those areas to be wary of measles symptoms.

“The initial symptoms of measles include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore and red eyes,” Queensland Health’s communicable diseases branch executive director Dr Sonya Bennett said.

“This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread.”

Symptoms usually start around 10 days after contact with an infectious person.