A case of Measles has been confirmed in Melbourne’s south and outer east.

Families have been warned to look out for signs of measles after a man was diagnosed with the highly contagious virus visited a busy Centrelink office and attended sports events.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton said a man in his 40s visited places in Melbourne’s south and outer east between February 8 and 12 while infectious, and the man may have been infected at Centrelink in Dandenong between January 22 and February 2.

Locations the man visited include:
— Thursday, February 8
Centrelink Dandenong, 8am-5pm

— Friday, February 9
Centrelink Dandenong, 8am-5pm;
Mountain Gate Cricket Club, Ferntree Gully, 6-8pm
Dan Murphy’s Rowville, 8.30pm

— Saturday, February 10
Fairhills High School basketball stadium, Knoxfield, 9.30-10.30am
Rowville Secondary College basketball stadium, Rowville, 2.30-3.30pm

— Sunday, February 11
Belgrave Cricket Ground, 11.30am-6.30pm

— Monday, February 12
ABC Costume Hire, Wantirna South, 3-4pm

Measles has an incubation period of up to 18 days so people who visited these locations might show symptoms until Tuesday, March 6.

Dr Sutton said people who developed the illness over the next week should alert their doctor or hospital emergency department.

The illness usually begins with common cold symptoms such as runny nose, red eyes and a cough, followed by fever and rash, Dr Sutton said.

“The characteristic measles rash usually begins 3-7 days after the first symptoms, generally starting on the face and then spreading to the rest of the body,” he said.

“Anyone developing symptoms is advised to ring ahead to their general practitioner or hospital first and tell them that they may have measles so that appropriate steps can be taken to avoid contact with other patients,” he said.

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