Keeping measles outbreak at bay
Public health officials are warning people to remain vigilant when travelling around the country, to keep measles from spreading into Nelson and Marlborough.
Increasing numbers of people have been hospitalised with measles in Auckland, and more cases have been confirmed in South Island cities, but the highly infectious disease has not yet been confirmed in the top of the south.
Data from ESR, released on Monday, show there have been at least 773 confirmed cases around the country this year. Auckland has been hit the hardest, with cases also reported this week in Queenstown, Taranaki and Waikato.
Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Andrew Lindsay said it was the biggest outbreak of measles in more than 20 years, and health officials here wanted to prevent it from spreading to the region.
‘‘This is a serious, lifethreatening disease that is very, very difficult to contain – as we’re seeing in Auckland.’’
Passengers on an Air New Zealand flight on August 19 from Samoa to Auckland have also been advised to watch out for the symptoms of measles, after a traveller was found to have been carrying the disease.
The last case of measles reported in Nelson and Marlborough was in November 2018, and was not related to an outbreak in Christchurch at the time.
The Ministry of Health also modified its standard MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination catchup advice this week. Under the new recommendations, babies as young as six months may now be vaccinated for measles at their doctor’s discretion, if parents have concerns about their potential exposure.
The MMR vaccine is usually given to children at 15 months, with a booster shot at four years. However, people planning to travel to Auckland or overseas with children aged under 15 months should ask their healthcare provider about
earlier vaccination.
Nelson Marlborough Health has written to schools across the region to advise caution for those travelling to Auckland for winter sports tournaments.
The Ministry of Health is asking that students, staff and all other adults travelling to tournament events in Auckland be made aware of the symptoms of measles and the appropriate action to take should a student exhibit symptoms.
Lindsay said measles was an ‘‘incredibly infectious’’ disease, with the virus able to be spread through the air.
‘‘If we are to stop measles spreading freely around our community, we must protect by vaccination, and isolate all confirmed cases and suspected cases as soon as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘Immunisation is your best protection against measles, and the MMR vaccine is available free for children, and people under the age of 50 who are not fully immunised.’’