For up-to-date information about measles in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes,
including the number of reported cases, go to www.toiteora.govt.nz/measles
Measles is a very infectious viral illness that spreads
easily from person to person. It can be serious with
about one in ten people with measles needing hospital
treatment. Immunisation is very eff ective in preventing
measles. The vaccine that protects against measles is
the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
“It’s important that parents ensure that their children
receive their free routine MMR immunisations on
time at 15 months and 4 years of age,” says Dr Neil
de Wet, Medical Offi cer of Health for Toi Te Ora
Public Health.
Dr de Wet says that there is measles in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes
districts and if, for any reason, you missed your childhood measles
immunisations, now is the time to get a dose of MMR vaccine.
With recent cases of measles in the
Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts, now
is a good time to check that you and
your family are immune to measles.
WHAT IS
MEASLES?
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness
and is spread from person to person
through the air by breathing, sneezing
or coughing. Just being in the same
room as someone with measles can lead
to infection if you are not immune.
If you are not immune, the illness
typically starts 7–14 days after you’ve
been exposed.
First symptoms
•
•
•
•
A fever
A cough
A runny nose
Sore and watery ‘pink’ eyes
Day 3–7 of illness
• A blotchy rash appears. The rash
typically starts on the face and behind
the ears, before spreading over your
head and down your body. The rash
lasts for up to a week.
Measles can be serious with around one
in ten people who get measles needing
hospital treatment.
“If for any reason you have never had a dose of MMR
vaccine now is the time to get one,” says Dr de Wet.
“After just one dose of MMR vaccine about 95% of
people will be immune and so protected from measles,
and 99% of people who have had both MMR doses
will be immune.”
PROTECTED
TOGETHER
IMMUNISATION IS
OUR BEST PROTECTION
• Measles is easily preventable by
immunising. Two doses of the
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
vaccine provides the most effective
protection for yourself, your family
and the wider community.
• After one dose of MMR, about 95%
of people are protected from measles.
After two doses, more than 99% of
people are protected.
• Children receive their free routine
MMR immunisations at 15 months
and 4 years of age.
• Measles immunisation is particularly
important if you are planning to travel
anywhere overseas – to protect
yourself and to help prevent
outbreaks in New Zealand.
• In New Zealand, if you were born
in 1969 or later, you can get the
measles vaccine for FREE.
GET THE LATEST MEASLES
UPDATES FOR THE BAY OF
PLENTY COMMUNITY FROM
TOI TE ORA PUBLIC HEALTH
People born before 1 January 1969 are considered to
be immune because virtually everyone got measles
prior to the measles immunisations being introduced
that year, and so this older age group (about 50 years
and older) do not need the measles immunisations.
It is particularly important to be sure you are immune
if you are planning an overseas trip. The Ministry of
Health recently highlighted that since 2012, all cases
of measles in New Zealand came from travellers
bringing the disease from overseas and that there are
currently signifi cant measles outbreaks in
many countries.
IF YOU THINK
YOU MIGHT
HAVE MEASLES
The fi rst early symptoms of measles
are fever, runny nose, sore red eyes
and cough, followed a few days later
by a rash usually starting on the face
before moving down the body.
If you think you or someone in your
family may have measles, stay at
home and phone your doctor to alert
them to your symptoms and allow
them to make arrangements to assess
you safely and without infecting other
people, or call Healthline on 0800 611
116 for advice.
Please do not just turn up to your GP,
after hours or emergency department
without fi rst phoning ahead as you
could potentially infect others.
KEEP
TO D UP
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