Measles Case On Air New Zealand Flight

MEDIA RELEASE
TO: News Room
FROM: Michele Hider, Communications Manager DATE: 17 December 2009
SUBJECT: Measles Case On Air New Zealand Flight

Canterbury District Health Board’s Community and Public Health Division is trying to identify 28 passengers who arrived in Christchurch on flight NZ509 from Auckland on Monday 7 December and were sitting near a child with confirmed measles.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink said, “passengers sitting in rows 13-17 of the Air New Zealand flight which arrived in Christchurch from Auckland at 3.45pm on Monday may have been exposed to the highly infectious disease. People sitting in these rows should contact their General Practice or Community and Public Health on 03 364 1777 if they have had symptoms or have any concerns."

Anyone sitting in these rows is also urged to stay away from pre-schools or other places where young children gather for the next 12 days.

Dr Pink said, “the 11 month old child had previously travelled on a flight from London to Auckland before transferring to another flight to Christchurch. Although the flight was more than a week ago, passengers who were sitting near the child and may have been exposed to measles could still be infectious as the incubation period for the disease can be up to 21 days.

Community and Public Health was notified after the child’s parents took her to a General Practice in Christchurch with symptoms.

Dr Pink said it was difficult to trace the passengers who could have been affected as most had left no contact details with the airline.

Measles is a serious disease which can spread from person to person through the air by breathing, coughing and sneezing. It can cause a rash, high fever, runny nose and sore watery eyes. It can lead to pneumonia, ear infections and brain damage and can occasionally be fatal.

There was a measles outbreak in Canterbury earlier this year and Dr Pink said it was important to avoid such an outbreak occurring again.

People most at risk of contracting the disease are those who have not had the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine or who have just had one dose of the vaccine.

Anyone born before 1969 is likely to be immune to the disease without having had the vaccine.

ENDS

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