Measles alert issued for Cairns

A measles alert has been issued in far north Queensland after a person with the highly contagious virus visited a busy shopping centre and hospital.

Infectious Diseases Physician Trent Yarwood says the person visited two GPs on Sunday and Monday displaying measles symptoms.

"The case also attended the Stocklands Earlville Shopping Centre on 1 and 2 March, as well as the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department on 2 March," Dr Yarwood said on Thursday.

"Staff from the general practices and Cairns Hospital will be contacting people who may potentially have been exposed."

Measles is highly infectious, can be a severe disease complicated by pneumonia and is usually characterised by a red blotchy rash.

Dr Yarwood said anyone displaying symptoms should call ahead before visiting doctors' rooms, hospitals or pathology services.