Two confirmed cases of measles in Melbourne have been discovered in the past week, sparking a warning to doctors and hospitals from Victoria's chief health officer.
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One person acquired the illness in Melbourne and the second may have been infected locally or overseas.
A third case of measles was confirmed late on Monday night.
The Health Department said the third person contracted the measles overseas, but at this stage they believe it is not related to the other two cases.
As the source of the infection is unknown, the Health Department has warned that there may already be secondary cases in the community that have not been diagnosed.
Measles is highly infectious and airborne, and can stay in the environment for up to two hours. It has an incubation period of between seven and 18 days.
The two confirmed cases were infectious between September 6 and September 13 and attended train stations between Armadale and Southern Cross, Collins Street in the CBD, Chadstone shopping centre, IKEA Richmond, St Kilda Library and Ballarat during this period.
It's believed the patients became infected at one of these locations between August 20 and September 1, the deputy chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton said on Monday.
Susceptible people who have attended these places are at risk of measles and may have the onset of symptoms anytime from September 13 until October 4.
Symptoms of the measles include a general rash lasting three or more days and fever (at least 38??C) with the onset of the rash and a cough, blocked nose or conjunctivitis.
Anyone who presents with symptoms compatible with measles should be tested and notified to the department.
The latest cases take Victoria's total notifications of measles to 12 this year, down from 37 this time last year.
Places where the cases may have acquired their illness (August 20 — September 1):
Metro trains (Frankston line) between Armadale and Southern Cross
Southern Cross Station & Armadale Station
St Kilda Library (specifically August 25 and August 30)
Collins Street, Docklands
The two cases spent time while infectious at the following locations:
September 6 — Ikea Richmond (11am — 1pm)
September 7 — Spotlight Carnegie (11.30am — 12.30pm), Chadstone Shopping Centre — specifically Kmart (12pm — 3.30pm)
September 8 — Federation University, Ballarat (Mt Helen campus)
September 9 — Chadstone Shopping Centre (10am — 1pm)
September 11 & 12 — Frankston Train line (peak hour travel time) — Armadale Station and Southern Cross Station, Collins St, Docklands
September 13 — Ikea Richmond (11am — 1.30pm)
