Docs fight to ‘stop people dying’
Lives of at-risk kids online if measles keeps spreading, say medical experts
Medical professionals at the forefront of the measles outbreak have said there will be deaths if the disease continues to spread. Nine new cases have been recorded in Auckland and seven more added to the national total.
As of 2pm yesterday, there had been 821 cases of measles in Auckland, and 991 confirmed cases notified nationwide. Eight adults and seven children are in hospital with the disease. One adult and one child are in a critical condition.
Starship clinical director Dr Michael Shepherd said some of the specific challenges were keeping other kids safe, including immunocompromised or at-risk children.
“I think that is something we can all get involved in as a community. I would really like to encourage people to think of others in this as well — and that is another reason for getting vaccinated.
“We are working really hard to stop people dying from measles.”
Shepherd said it was hard to see children having to stay home from school and take precautions such as wearing masks because of measles in the community. He said the risk for people with compromised immunity was much higher.
“Measles is dangerous to everyone, and I think we are going to continue to see serious illness and potentially death during this outbreak.”
Shepherd said they’d treated several children who had been critically unwell, and one patient in Starship remains in a critical condition.
“We are obviously trying our hardest to make sure they do well.”
He said the outbreak had added to the winter pressure doctors face.
“It is another thing that adds pressure to the health system and of course it is very tough to see children, adults, others getting infection and illness that we can prevent. That is of course worrying. The message is we can all do something to help this; know your immunisation status, know whether you have been vaccinated, and if you are not sure then go and get it sorted out.”
Meanwhile, Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr William Rainger confirmed a student who attended the St Peter’s College ball on Saturday did have measles.
It was earlier reported the affected student was from another school and attended the ball as the partner of a college student before the symptoms began to appear.
Rainger said the service had been working with St Peter’s and the sick student’s school to ensure parents and students have clear advice on the level of risk from exposure.
Letters from ARPHS are being sent via schools to parents, informing them that their children may have been exposed.
Anyone who attended the St Peter’s ball is recommended to go into quarantine from Saturday September 7 until the end of Saturday September 14, if they are not vaccinated or are not sure if they are vaccinated.