Information regarding Measles Outbreak March 2019
Two cases of measles have now been confirmed in Dunedin since 22 Feb, both of which are linked to the current outbreak in Christchurch. One case was in contact with a local early childhood service whilst infectious. Public Health South is working with staff and parents at the affected service to ensure that any unimmunised or vulnerable contacts are safe. This is a timely reminder to ensure that your records and childrens vaccinations are up to date. Measles is a highly infectious disease and is more serious than many people realise. Symptoms include fever, cough, red eyes and a runny nose, and then a rash which develops after about 4 days. About one in ten people with measles need to be hospitalised and 30% will develop complications. The best measles prevention is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which is free for all New Zealand children.
