Measles alert issued for Melbourne Christmas shoppers

Christmas shoppers in Melbourne have been urged to watch out for measles symptoms after a woman diagnosed with the disease spent time in the city while infectious.

The woman, suspected of picking up the illness overseas, went shopping in Brunswick and the CBD while infectious on Wednesday and Thursday last week, Victoria's deputy chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said.

She went shopping in Myer, David Jones and H&M at Bourke St Mall, Cotton On at DFO Southern Cross department, and visited Woolworths and Coles in Barkly Square.

She travelled on tram route no. 19 on both days.

Dr Sutton said it's likely the woman's case is isolated as it's believed she picked up the illness overseas, but urged anyone presenting with symptoms of the viral disease to see their GP.

“Measles has an incubation period of up to 18 days so those at risk of measles, who visited these locations, might show symptoms up until December 18,” Dr Brett Sutton said.

“The illness usually begins with common cold symptoms such as runny nose, red eyes and a cough, followed by fever and rash. The characteristic measles rash usually begins three to seven days after the first symptoms, generally starting on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body.

“Anyone developing symptoms is advised to ring ahead to their GP or hospital first and tell them that they have fever and a rash.”

It's the 12th measles case confirmed in Melbourne in recent months and people who visit areas where the woman shopped may be at risk of contracting measles, with symptoms possible to emerge through until December 18.