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ACT Health has warned Canberrans to be aware of measles symptoms after recording the territory's first case of the contagious illness for this year. ACT Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said a Canberran was diagnosed with measles on Tuesday after becoming infected on a recent overseas trip. He said the Health Protection Service was following up anyone who might have been exposed to the illness in line with national guidelines. "This includes contacts on an international flight, in a GP surgery and Canberra Hospital Pathology Department where the case attended," he said. "People who were potentially exposed to the case at these locations have been identified and are being contacted directly." Dr Kelly said members of the public may have been exposed at Woolworths in Conder on Thursday, February 12, between 7.30pm and 9pm. "We're advising anyone who attended this shopping centre during these times to be aware for symptoms and to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms," he said. "Anyone with symptoms of measles should advise their health provider before they arrive at the medical clinic so that appropriate infection control precautions can be put in place to stop the spread of the infection." Symptoms of measles may include fever, tiredness, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, followed by a rash two to seven days later. People generally develop symptoms seven to 18 days after being exposed to a person with infectious measles. Meanwhile, people are infectious from five days before they develop a rash until four days after. "Measles is a serious disease and is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised," Dr Kelly said. "The virus is spread from an infectious person during coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth. "The most effective protection against measles is vaccination." For more information about measles, visit ACT Health at www.health.act.gov.au/publications/fact-sheets/measles

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