Measles: 1172 confirmed cases across New Zealand

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

New Zealand health officials continue to report measles, with Auckland seeing the most. From Jan. 1, 2019 to Sept. 11, 2019 there have been 1172 confirmed cases of measles notified across New Zealand. 970 of these confirmed cases are in the Auckland region.

Counties Manukau District is reporting the most, with greater than 650 cases, in the Auckland region.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) continues to provide advice to schools, early learning services and other organization affected by measles.

The service is also working to stop the spread of the virus outside of Auckland by alerting the travelling public and other public health services when people infectious with measles have left the region.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr William Rainger is asking parents not to delay getting children vaccinated at 12 months and at four years, and to make sure older children are vaccinated now if they have missed out.

“Do watch out for the symptoms of measles – a fever, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes, with a rash following a few days later. Please phone ahead to your GP before going to the clinic, if you think you may have measles,” Dr Rainger says.

Immunization is the best way to protect against getting measles. Measles (MMR) vaccination is free to everyone under the age of 50 and 99 percent effective after two doses.

Children in New Zealand normally get the MMR vaccine at 15 months and 4 years old as part of the national vaccine schedule.