A MEASLES warning alert has been issued following a confirmed measles case in a person who visited several places in Perth over the past week.

People without measles immunity needed to be vigilant for the onset of symptoms.

The patient visited the following locations:

Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital between Wednesday, January 22 and Friday, January 24

Coffee Biz, Lion’s Eye Institute Foyer Nedlands on Thursday, January 23 at lunchtime

Coffee Anatomy, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands on Friday, January 24 at lunchtime

Spices supermarket on Hampden Rd in Nedlands on Saturday, January 25 around lunchtime

Woolworths in Reynolds Rd at Mt Pleasant on Sunday, January 26 between 11am and 11.45am

Terry White Chemist on Monash Ave in Nedlands on Tuesday, January 28 between 10am and 10.45am

Hollywood Newsagency in Hampden Rd in Nedlands on Tuesday, January 28 between 3pm and 3.45pm.

Acting Director of Communicable Disease Control, Dr Clare Huppatz, said there was no current or ongoing risk of acquiring measles from visiting these venues – potential exposure to measles was confined to the dates and times specified.

“Western Australians born before 1966 are usually immune to measles because they had the illness as children,” she said.

“People born from 1966 onwards, however, and who would be aged in their 30s or older, may need a Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) booster vaccination because they are likely to have received only a single dose of vaccine due to the recommendation at the time.

“Two doses of MMR are now known to be required for optimal immunity,” Dr Huppatz said.

Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral illness which is spread when infected people cough or sneeze. Being in the same room – in or soon after – someone with measles can result in infection in people who are not immune.

Symptoms typically develop seven to 18 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash three or four days later.

The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Complications following measles can be serious. About 10 per cent of cases will develop ear infections and/or pneumonia, approximately one in five will require hospital admission and one in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

To prevent spread of measles, anybody who thinks they might have the disease should call ahead to their clinic or Emergency Department so they can be isolated from other patients and staff on arrival.

People who are concerned they might have measles and require medical advice after hours can also contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.