New Zealanders are being urged to look out for measle symptoms after a person with the infection flew from Wellington to Auckland last night. It comes after two measle cases were confirmed in Auckland last month.
The person flew from Wellington to Auckland Jetstar Flight JQ258 on Tuesday after attending a number of activities in the days prior in the capital.
The person, who lives in Northland, was in contact with students who attended a week-long SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production event at Scots College, Te Whatu Ora medical officer Dr Jay Harrower said.
These students then travelled to other parts of the country, Dr Harrower said.
"We are asking those people who were at the Scots College event to isolate until they have been contacted by public health. Everyone on the flight should get vaccinated if they are not immune or if they are unsure. Those at high risk will be contacted by public health services in the next few days.," Dr Harrower said.
"We are asking New Zealanders to be alert to the symptoms or get vaccinated if they haven’t already."
Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service staff around the country will be texting and contacting the students and others who have been exposed to the virus.
Staff are also working to identify possibly affected people and places, provide information on public health action and support to those who may have come into contact with the individual. Information on what you need to do if you were on the JetStar flight will be available from Friday on the Te Whatu Ora website. A full list of exposure events will be uploaded once Public Health Services have completed identification of these.
The health agency is asking anyone who thinks they are a close contact to stay at home in quarantine until contacted by public health service staff.
"This is a serious wake-up call about the high risk of measles, particularly to our pēpi, tamariki and rangatahi. The best way you can protect them is ensuring they are immunised against measles, and the whānau around them are also immunised," Te Whatu Ora chief medical officer Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen said.
Measles is a virus that is highly contagious and can cause serious problems for some people, especially unvaccinated young children and pregnant people, according to the UN.
The first symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose, and sore and watery pink eyes. This is followed by a blotchy rash.
People are considered immune if they have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or, have had a measles illness previously, Te Whatu Ora said. Most people who lived in New Zealand before 1969 are also considered immune because measles was very common at that time.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated against measles, or who is not sure if they’ve had measles previously are recommended to be immunised with the MMR vaccine.
Two MMR vaccines are free for anyone 18 years or under, and for New Zealand residents aged over 18 years. If you or anyone in your whānau has not had an MMR vaccine or aren't sure, ask your GP, parent, or caregiver.
"We urge everyone to be aware of the symptoms of measles and to call your healthcare provider if you suspect anyone in your whānau has measles," Dr McKree Jansen said.
"We would like to remind people to be up to date with the immunisation. If you are unsure whether you have had one or two doses of MMR, get vaccinated as there is no additional risk in getting an extra dose."
