A 32-year-old Queensland paramedic is in a serious condition in hospital after contracting measles.

A Queensland paramedic who has contracted measles worked on Moreton Island and transferred patients to several Brisbane hospitals before the disease was detected.

The 32-year-old is in a serious but stable condition in a Brisbane hospital after he caught the highly infectious disease, prompting authorities to issue an alert on Tuesday.

The health department is undertaking urgent contact and says anyone who visited the island between the 14th and 18th of May should be on alert for symptoms.

The man moved patients to the Princess Alexandra, Greenslopes Private, Lady Cilento Children's and QEII hospitals during specific times on the 11th and 12th of this month, Queensland health's Dr Brad McCall said on Tuesday.

"We'll be working with those hospitals, their infection control staff, their infection disease physicians, to identify people who may have been in that vicinity," he said.

"The real message is ... the vaccine is there, it's a safe, highly effective vaccine. It needs to be used."

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young urged anyone born after 1966 to check their vaccination status.

"If you haven't had your two doses of measles vaccine, go and have them," she said.

"If you're not sure, it won't hurt to go and have a third."

The latest infection is Queensland's eighth confirmed case for 2015 and follows 73 cases in 2014 - the highest number in decades.

Dr Young said the department "strongly recommends", rather than mandates, full measles vaccination for workers.

There is a mandated requirement to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B.

The risk posed by the latest case was compounded by the timing, given it has emerged in flu season.

Many people may mistake the symptoms of measles - including a fever, runny nose and sore eyes - for a common cold.

WHEN THE PARAMEDIC WAS IN BRISBANE HOSPITALS:
* Princess Alexandra Hospital: May 11 between 5.45am and 9.10am, between 7.45pm and 9.30pm, between 5.45am and 9.10am, May 12 between 11.15pm and 12.15am.
* Greenslopes Private Hospital: May 12 between 12.15am and 1.30am.
* Lady Cilento Children's Hospital: May 11 between 9.30pm and 10.30pm.
* QEII Hospital: May 12 between 4am and 5.15am.