UPDATED 5.14PM: Measles have been detected on a flight from China to Auckland - and it's possible other passengers on board were exposed.

Auckland Regional Health Service is warning that some of those on board the China Southern Airlines flight CZ305 that flew into Auckland on Saturday, could start seeing symptoms this coming weekend.

Doctor Richard Hoskins said the first symptoms are a fever, and possibly a runny nose, cough and sore red eyes followed by a nasty red blotchy rash some days later that starts on the face.

 "If they start to develop the symptoms of measles they need to basically isolate themselves so they don't pass it on to other people, and then seek medical care if they get sick enough to need that."

He's also concerned it could spread, saying many New Zealanders are not immune to the virus.  

"The concern is that this could spread to more people and that some of those people might have severe measles or some of the really severe side effects that you can get from measles."