Confirmed Case of Measles - Auckland

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday 6 March 2015

Confirmed Case of Measles - Auckland

Passengers on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland have been exposed to measles, advises Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH131 arrived in Auckland on 26 February 2015.

“We can confirm there was a passenger on board who was infectious during the flight and remained infectious until today” says Medical Officer of Health Dr Julia Peters.

It can take 10-14 days for someone who has caught measles to start showing symptoms. If anyone on the flight has caught measles, they may already be starting to develop symptoms.

“Any passengers from this flight who feel unwell are urged to phone their GP or call Healthline on
0800 611 116 before visiting their doctor,” says Dr Peters. “It is vitally important to call first because measles is a highly infectious airborne disease, and people with measles can easily infect others in doctors’ waiting rooms.

“Passengers who sat nearest the infected person have the highest risk and their local public health service will try to contact them. We want all passengers to be aware and vigilant.”

Measles is a serious illness, says Dr Peters and there is no treatment. The initial symptoms of measles include a fever, running nose, cough and sore eyes. After about a week, a raised red rash spreads over the body lasting several days.

“The only way to avoid catching measles is to have had two measles vaccinations, at 15 months and four years. Please check with your GP to see if you and your family are protected,” says Dr Peters.

For more information on measles please see Auckland Regional Public Health Services website.

ENDS

For more information:
See the ARPHS health information on measles, including factsheets, at http://www.arphs.govt.nz/health-information/communicable-disease/measles.

For vaccination advice contact the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 IMMUNE or visit
http://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/measles.

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