Residents in Sydney’s south are on alert for measles after a case was detected in the Sutherland Shire.

A traveller tested positive after returning from Southeast Asia where there is an outbreak of measles.

The person visited multiple locations across the shire while unknowingly infectious, including healthcare facilities, food outlets, shopping centres, retail stores and an auto repair shop.

Authorities advised a full list of exposure sites were available on the NSW Health website and people who attended the locations should watch for measles symptoms.

There have been 47 measles cases detected in NSW this year, increasing the risk of contracting the deadly disease.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District public health physician Anthea Katelaris said people should monitor for symptoms of measles, particularly if they have visited any of the exposure locations at the listed time.

“If symptoms develop and you’ve been at one of the locations at the time listed on the website, see your doctor or health service, including an emergency department,” Dr Katelaris said.

“Call ahead to let them know that you may have come into contact with measles so you don’t spend time in waiting rooms with other patients.

“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body.

“Anyone with early symptoms who gets a rash a few days later should also think about measles, even if they haven’t attended one of the identified locations, and seek testing.

“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms for this period.”

Dr Katelaris said measles was a preventable disease that could spread through the air when an infectious person coughed or sneezed.

“Importantly, we want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough,” she said.