Christmas shoppers at several major retail sites may have been exposed to measles after a teenage girl became infected on a trip to Asia then went shopping in Adelaide.

The 15-year-old girl from South Australia visited several major retail locations in Adelaide’s northeast during the Christmas shopping rush while infectious, SA Health warns.

SA Health Acting Communicable Disease Control Branch Director, Dr Ann Koehler, said the teenager is now recovering at home.

“Measles is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised, and can be contracted by other people up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left the area,” Dr Koehler said.

“People with measles are infectious for several days before they develop symptoms, so anyone who was in the locations at the times listed should be aware of how measles presents.

“Measles begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which begins on the head and then spreads down the body. Complications of measles can be severe.”

SA Health is advising anyone who is not fully immunised, and particularly those who were in the locations at the times listed below, to be alert for symptoms over the next few weeks and to see a doctor if they become ill — but to phone the doctor before they visit and explain the situation so precautions can be taken to avoid spreading disease to others.

The teenager visited the following locations on Friday December 21 while infectious:

DAN Murphy’s, corner The Grove Way and The Golden Way, Golden Grove

between 9.45am-11am;

THE Grove Shopping Centre, Lot 1037 The Golden Way, Golden Grove,

between 10am-11am;

WESTFIELD Tea Tree Plaza at Modbury, between 11am-2pm;

BUNNINGS Warehouse, North East Rd, Modbury, between 1.15pm-

2.15pm;

CLOVERCREST Village, corner Montague Rd and Kelly Rd, Modbury, between

1.30pm-2.30pm.

“Immunisation provides the best protection against measles and it’s vital that everyone makes sure they’ve had two doses of the measles vaccine to protect themselves and the community,” Dr Koehler said.

Vaccination Update Vaccination Update

“Measles is common in Asia so it is vital that people travelling to those regions check that they have had two doses of the measles vaccine before leaving home.

“We are especially encouraging people who were born in Australia after or during 1966 to check their vaccination records, and request the vaccine if there is no record of them receiving two doses.

“People born in the late 1960s to mid-1980s may believe they are fully immunised but may have only received one measles vaccine and be at risk of measles.

“If you were born during or after 1966 and haven’t received two measles vaccines, visit your GP or local council immunisation clinic to obtain a measles (MMR) vaccine.

“Children receive their first measles vaccination at 12 months and a second one at either 18 months or four years old.”

This is the second case of measles reported in South Australia this year.