Acting chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said the person travelled into and out of Canberra on Thursday.

The infected person arrived from Brisbane on flight QF1543 from Brisbane at 8am and left on flight QF809 to Melbourne 8.49am.

“Anyone who was on the identified flights in and out of Canberra or in the Canberra Airport departure terminal between 8-10am on that day, should be aware for signs and symptoms of measles between now and Tuesday, April 9,” Dr Coleman said.

“Symptoms of measles may include fever, tiredness, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, followed by a rash which appears 2-7 days later."

Dr Coleman said anyone with symptoms of measles should seek medical advice and tell their doctor before they arrive so appropriate infection control precautions could be put in place to stop the spread of infection.

“People generally develop symptoms 7-18 days after being exposed to a person with infectious measles, with 10 days being more common," he said.

"People are infectious from approximately four 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.

“The virus is spread from an infectious person during coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth.

“Whenever measles is identified, it is a strong reminder that the best way to protect yourself and your family against measles is vaccination.

"Two doses of Measles Mumps Rubella vaccine are required for immunity against measles and are given to children in Australia at 12 and 18 months of age. However, the vaccine can be given at any age after nine months.

“Measles continues to circulate in many overseas countries, so people travelling should check their immune status before leaving home."

For further information about measles, visit the ACT Health website at: https://www.health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-09/Measles.pdf