NSW Health is warning GPs to watch out for measles after seven cases were notified in Sydney in the past few weeks.

Recent cases have presented at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, local medical centres in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains as well as Penrith shopping centres.

“There may be other cases in the community with measles now or who will be developing symptoms over the next few weeks,” the health authority said.

GPs are advised to isolate suspected cases by arranging to see them in their homes or by bringing them in at the end of the day.

It asked that GPs notify their Public Health Unit immediately,and not to wait for test results before calling.

It also recommended arranging urgent tests, including collecting blood for measles serology, a nose and throat specimen on a viral transport swab for culture and a first pass urine sample (~50ml) for immunofluorescence.

Just last week Queensland Health issued an alert about a measles case on Brisbane Southside. It urged anyone who was at the South Bank Lifestyle Market on 19 May and Garden City Upper Mt Gravatt on 20 May to be aware of symptoms.

Public health medical officer, Dr Brad McCall,said the person who was hospitalised was thought to have acquired the infection in south east Asia.

He advised anyone born during or since 1966, who has not had two documented doses of the MMR vaccine or had proven measles, to visit their GP and get vaccinated.

In Victoria there have been 11 measles notifications to date this year. This compares to 28 for the same period last year and just six in 2010, according to a spokesperson.