Residents in a number of Perth suburbs are on high alert today after the Department of Health warned of a possible measles outbreak.

The department issued a warning for places in Lathlain, Mt Lawley, Carlisle, Perth Airport and Belmont between October 14 and 19 after a WA resident contracted the disease while on holiday in New Zealand.

This latest case is not linked to the Rockingham-South West cluster, which has affected 26 people, bringing the total number of people with confirmed cases of the virus to 53.

Department of Health public health physician Dr Donna Mak said people who might have been exposed to the virus needed to be on high alert.

She said cases of measles have risen this year. “Fever, running eyes, cough and a rash are the symptoms that people should look out for,” she said.

“People who have been travelling to South-East Asia or New Zealand are especially at risk of being exposed to the virus.

“New Zealand has had 1800 cases this year of measles and, due to people travelling between WA and New Zealand, we are likely to see more imported cases.”

Dr Mak urged women who were trying to get pregnant to be vaccinated.

“Two women in New Zealand have lost their babies during pregnancy because of measles, so we urge anyone who is thinking about having a baby to check their immunisation records,” she said