Measles cases prompt more vaccine inquiries
People worried about the Canterbury measles outbreak spreading to Palmerston North are starting to check in with general practices asking about vaccination.
Midcentral District Health Board medical officer of health Robert Weir said there were no confirmed cases of measles in the district.
In Canterbury, 28 people have developed measles, with further cases suspected, and Auckland and Dunedin have also reported cases.
‘‘It is very likely measles will continue to spread,’’ said Weir.
But the public health unit was not advising children here to have their vaccinations any earlier than the scheduled 15 months and four years.
Central Primary Health Organisation clinical director for integration Christine Hill said most Palmerston North and Feilding practices had reported an increased demand for immunisation.
The pattern was not being seen in Tararua and Horowhenua.
There was a measles outbreak in Horowhenua in 2016, and that had possibly prompted more people in Levin to check their immunisation status.
Hill said primary health workers consistently urged people to get vaccinations on time, and were happy to catch up with any children behind schedule at any time, ‘‘including at times of potential exposure’’.
Weir said general practices throughout the Midcentral district were holding normal supplies of the vaccine despite the extra demand coming from Canterbury.
There was information about how to avoid the spread of measles on the board’s website, and early childhood centres and schools had been alerted to where to find advice.
He said measles was a serious disease that spread quickly.
About 30 per cent of people with measles developed complications.
People who were not immunised did not just risk infection themselves – they also risked spreading the virus to vulnerable people, including babies, pregnant women, cancer patients and others who could not be immunised. Unimmunised people who were exposed to measles needed to go into isolation until 14 days after their last exposure to stop the spread.
This meant staying at home and missing out on things like school, work, sporting competitions and social events, Weir said.
Symptoms of measles included fever, a runny nose, and sore watery red eyes for several days before a red blotchy rash appeared.
People were infectious from five days before the rash appeared until five days after.
If people thought they might have measles they should phone their general practice or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for more advice. It was important people said they might have measles before visiting at a health centre.