Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Summary
The National Public Health Service (NPHS) is alerting to clinicians to an escalating risk of measles following the identification of a new measles case in Auckland, linked to recent overseas travel. This new case is not linked to recent cases in Queenstown and the Bay of Islands.
The new case was infectious from 12 to 20 October and has now been released from isolation. Public health teams are managing contacts linked to several health care related exposure events, one of which has been published as a location of interest.
Measles: Locations of interest in Aotearoa New Zealand (external link)
Updates about the Auckland response will be published in our News section.
Aotearoa New Zealand is at very high risk of a large outbreak. Population immunity is well below the 95% required to prevent outbreak, and there have been three separate measles incursions in recent weeks, with cases in several locations across Aotearoa all linked to overseas travel. There is currently a high risk of measles in Australia, Asia and other countries New Zealanders frequently travel to. Early identification of measles cases enables a rapid public health response and increases our ability to prevent or control an outbreak.
Key actions for healthcare professionals
- Please remain vigilant for people with measles symptoms, including fever, cough and rash, especially in anyone who was present at any of the Locations of Interest.
- Please remain alert for measles in anyone arriving in Aotearoa or returning from overseas, and triage anyone arriving from overseas with a febrile illness as potentially infectious.
- Take a nasopharyngeal viral swab (preferred) or throat swab for measles PCR. Do not test for serology.
- DO NOT send patients to community labs for testing.
- If measles is suspected in the hospital/clinic, provide an N95 mask and isolate the patient immediately; advise any discharged patients to isolate at home until contacted by NPHS.
- Notify immediately on suspicion to public health via electronic referral (where available) and call to notify your local on-call Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Service contacts (external link) - Follow usual infection, prevention and control for any suspected measles cases.
- Display measles posters at ED entrance and in waiting rooms.
Response resources (external link)
MMR vaccination
- Continue to offer MMR vaccination to anyone whose vaccination status is unknown, or unable to be proven (if no contraindications). There are no concerns with receiving an MMR vaccination even if already immune.
- Encourage MMR vaccination (and other vaccinations) for anyone planning overseas travel.
- Pēpi between the ages of 4-12 months should be considered for an early dose of the MMR vaccine early (MMR0) before overseas travel. This dose will need to be given under prescription. Pēpi will still require their scheduled doses at 12 and 15 months old for long-term protection.
- MMR vaccination is free to anyone aged under 18, regardless of immigration status, and for adults aged 18 and over, if eligible for free New Zealand healthcare.
Eligibility for publicly funded healthcare (external link) - Ensure that all staff are protected against measles and have the opportunity to receive vaccination if required.