13 August 2014
Waikato Reports Only One New Case of Measles
There has been only one case of measles notified to Waikato District Health Board’s Population Health in the last week.
The case was a household contact of a laboratory confirmed case and was already in quarantine.
Medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell said Population Health had been notified of 125 confirmed measles cases since the latest outbreak started in June.
Almost half of the confirmed cases are household contacts of a confirmed case and were already placed in quarantine before they were unwell.
Approximately 80 per cent of cases are aged between 10 to 20 years. Of the others, 15 per cent are aged under 10 years and five per cent over 30 years and are mostly close contacts of confirmed cases in quarantine as they were not vaccinated.
Nine cases have been hospitalised but are now well.
Of the 125 cases, the vast majority are unimmunised; only four are fully immunised.
Approximately 110 cases with a clinical illness and rash like measles have been investigated and were found not to have measles.
There are currently no schools or child care centres with quarantine management in place.
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.
ENDS