18.3.2019

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is working with the University of Auckland to contact students and staff who have shared classes with a first year student with measles.

Medical Officer of Health Dr William Rainger says the new case was an 18 year old student suspected of acquiring the illness overseas. The contagious student attended a lecture and tutorial for COMLAW 101 on Monday 11 March, a lecture and tutorial for ECON 151 on Tuesday 12 March, and a BUSINESS 101 lecture on Thursday 14 March.

"The University is emailing information to those registered on these courses and the teaching staff to ask they check their immunity and watch out for symptoms.

"If any student or staff member is showing signs of measles such as a fever, runny nose or cough, or sore red eyes, or a rash that appears on the face and then moves down the body, we are asking them to please call their GP or after hours medical clinic for advice, " he says.

The service is checking the student's household and other contacts to assess immunity, discuss quarantine and monitor any symptoms.

This case is not linked to the two recent cases notified on Tuesday 12 March, an infant and a young adult, or the case on 28 February. There have now been four measles cases in Auckland this year.

Many young people in the region are not fully immunised, but they can be vaccinated for free at their GP practice. People born after 1969 and before 1992 will have received only one MMR vaccine. These people are entitled to the second MMR dose free of charge, although a practice nurse fee may apply.

While children are immunised at 15 months and four years with the MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine, the Ministry of Health recommends that infants aged 6-15 months travelling to countries where there is a current measles outbreak be given the MMR vaccine before they travel.

An up-to-date list of countries with a measles outbreak can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Measles for Travellers.