The NT Centre for Disease Control has issued a measles alert following the hospitalisation of a man in north Queensland who visited numerous tourist attractions in the NT earlier this month.

The alert, announced on Saturday, encourages anyone who travelled in the Territory, ate at restaurants in Kakadu National Park, or passed through Darwin or Alice Springs Airports on certain dates in July to be on the lookout for symptoms of measles.

NT Health reported that the unnamed man, believed to have contracted the virus while overseas in Indonesia, travelled through parts of the NT for several days while infectious.

NT Health advises anyone who visited the impacted areas from July 17 to 23 to monitor for symptoms such as fever, sore eyes, runny nose, cough, and a blotchy red rash. Measles symptoms can take up to 18 days to appear after exposure.

“Check your vaccination status. Measles is highly contagious but preventable with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine,” a department representative said.

NT Health said that on July 17, the infected individual participated in a full-day tour with Ethical Adventures at Litchfield National Park. The following day, he went on an overnight trip with AAPT Kings and had dinner at the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru between 6 pm and 8 pm.

On July 20, he visited the NT Museum and Art Gallery in Darwin from 1 pm to 3 pm. Later that afternoon, he passed through Darwin Airport, departing on Qantas flight QF1960 at 3:30 pm, and arrived at Alice Springs Airport at 7 pm.

On Tuesday, July 23, he flew from Alice Springs to Cairns on Air North flight TL361.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can have severe health implications, especially for young children under the age of five, as it continues to be a major cause of mortality in certain regions.

The virus is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it possible for those nearby to become infected.

A person with measles is contagious from just before symptoms manifest until four days after the rash emerges.

“Anyone who attended these locations during the listed times should monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if unwell. The vaccine is safe and effective, and available from your GP, local health centre, Aboriginal health clinic, and vaccinating pharmacies,” the department said in its alert.

Vaccines for measles are available in combination forms, such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

NT Health recommends that all children receive their measles vaccinations at 12 and 18 months of age as part of the National Immunisation Program.