Measles Statistics Weekly Update #7

Monday 22 August 2011

Measles Statistics Weekly Update #7
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service can confirm:
• 111 confirmed cases of measles in the Auckland region as of this morning
• Six contacts are in quarantine
• Eight cases have required hospitalisation during this outbreak
• Most cases have occurred in West Auckland with some spread to Central Auckland, North Shore, and Manukau
• There have been five cases of rubella notified in the region

Dr Richard Hoskins, Medical Officer of Health says “Although the number of new cases has been lower for the last two weeks this does not necessarily indicate the outbreak is nearly over. Though we are cautiously optimistic that the worst of the outbreak may be over, it’s not yet time to stop being suspicious about new cases or to relax with ensuring on-time immunisation. Measles is highly infectious and one case in a group where immunity is low can rapidly lead to many more cases over the next two weeks. It usually takes four weeks with no new cases before we are confident an outbreak has finished.

“We’ve already had seven incidents where measles was bought back from overseas travel this year, so it’s always important to ensure on-time immunisation for your family and loved ones. If we could reach the national target of 95%, for on time immunisation of children at 15 months and four years, then this sort of outbreak would have very little chance of reoccurring or going on for as long.

“By getting immunised you will not only be protecting yourself or your child – you’ll be stopping measles from spreading in your communities.

“Measles is highly infectious so please phone your GP first before going to the surgery; symptoms include fever, cough, blocked nose, sore red eyes. If you think you or anyone in your family might have measles, contact your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116, for advice.” says Dr Hoskins

Rubella

Medical Officer of Health, Dr Richard Hoskins says, “We have been notified of five confirmed cases of rubella in the Auckland region. Rubella symptoms can include a mild illness with a rash, fever and swollen glands in children and a rash, swollen glands and joint pain in teenagers and adults.

“Rubella is a significant disease which can cause severe effects to the unborn child, the risk is highest in the first eight weeks of a woman’s pregnancy; these effects can include deafness, blindness, brain damage and heart defects. We recommend all pregnant women or those who intend to become pregnant check their immune status, the measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) vaccine is the only protection against rubella.”

For further information about rubella visit

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