PASSENGERS who recently flew to Melbourne from Dubai are being warned to look out for symptoms of the measles after sharing a flight with a man who was “extremely infectious”.

Those who were at Melbourne airport on January 11 — and particularly around the international baggage collection area — are also asked to be on alert for signs of the measles.

Victoria’s Department of Health issued the warning today after the man in his 30s was hospitalised soon after arriving in Australia.

Because measles has an incubation period of between seven to 18 days, those who may have been infected could develop symptoms from tomorrow until the end of January.

The Australian man had flown on Emirates flight EK404 from Dubai Wednesday January 10, stopping in Singapore before arriving at Melbourne Airport last Thursday at about 9am.

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton said anyone who was at the airport between 9am and midday should seek medical assistance if they develop any symptoms.

“We are working with airline officials to identify and contact passengers who shared the international flight into Melbourne,” Dr Sutton said.

“People who were at Melbourne Airport last Thursday, particularly around the international baggage collection area, who develop illness over the next week should alert their doctor or hospital emergency department.”

Measles is highly infectious and can cause serious illness that can develop into pneumonia and other complications requiring hospitalisation.

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

“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 have fever and a rash so that appropriate steps can be taken to avoid contact with other patients.”

While the measles vaccine has rendered the disease uncommon in Australia, Dr Sutton said it was important parents continued to immunise their children due to the danger posed by travellers arriving from overseas.