Toowoomba is now at the centre of a measles outbreak in Queensland after an infected victim visited five public sits last week.
Queensland has recorded more than 30 cases of the terrible and potentially fatal disease and health officials are concerned Toowoomba could emerge as the next hot spot.
Measles is a highly infectious virus that is spread by an infected person coughing, sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth.
Symptoms usually start 7-10 days after contact with an infected person but it can sometimes take as long as three weeks to show.
The Downs Hospital and Health Service has confirmed a first case in Toowoomba with the patient visiting five public locations in the city during November while they were infected.
The patient visited Andrews Toowoomba Hospital in Rockville, the Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Department, Fitzy’s Toowoomba, The Empire Theatre, and Motion Toowoomba,
Toowoomba residents who visited the sites may have been exposed to the disease and need to be alert for symptoms for up to three weeks from the exposure date.
The initial symptoms of measles can include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist cough and sore red eyes.
This is followed a few days later by a blotchy, red rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread over the body.
If you have any measles symptoms, call your doctor to arrange a test or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice.
Residents are urged that if they think they have measles, that they should avoid public spaces.