The highly infectious measles virus has been detected on the Gold Coast, as the rising number of cases in Queensland puts health authorities on edge.

Queensland Health has issued an alert for the Gold Coast, just a day after new cases were detected in Cairns , Far North Queensland.

An adult who recently returned from Bali was unknowingly infectious when he visited gyms, shops and chemists across the Gold Coast over the past week.

Further north, nine cases have been identified by the Cairns and Hinterland Health Service since August 1.

Measles is an acute, highly infectious viral illness that can cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and middle ear infections.

Gold Coast measles exposure sites:

World Gym, Burleigh: Thursday 11 September

Coles, Palm Beach: Friday 12 September

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