Dr Shoemack said he suspected it was through fortune more than anything else that we have not had an outbreak, due to the number of people not vaccinated in the community.
Measles immunisation is free and is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is 99 per cent effective in preventing measles. The MMR vaccine is given as part of the usual childhood immunisations at 15 months of age and at 4 years of age. If any, or both, of these immunisations have been missed it is not too late to catch up.
If there was an outbreak of measles at a school, students who have not had their immunisations may be required to stay at home for two weeks (or longer) to ensure they do not pass measles on to others.
Measles can be serious but it easily preventable through immunisation.
More information can be found at www.ttophs.govt.nz/measles.