Concerns measles may have spread in NZ

Crowds attend Armageddon. File photo: Richard Robinson

A confirmed case of measles at the Hamilton's Armageddon Expo at the weekend has sparked concerns the highly infectious disease may have spread.

Waikato District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell said while the person who attended Sunday's event at Claudelands Event Centre was "well", they would still have been infectious at the time of event.

"Measles can be a very serious illness, with one in three sufferers experiencing complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis or diarrhoea," she said.

The Waikato DHB is now calling for everyone who attended the expo to check whether they are immune, and keep watch for any signs or symptoms of measles in the next few weeks.

Those who aren't immune include people under 45 who haven't had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and children over four who haven't had their second dose.

Infants under 15 months who haven't received their first routine vaccine are also susceptible.

Waikato DHB's Population Health service has recently been notified of several confirmed cases of measles in Hamilton.

"While there have been a number of cases of measles in New Zealand, the majority in Auckland, these are the first confirmed cases of measles in the Waikato," said Dr Bell.

"While one in 10 on average requires hospitalisation, admission rates in this outbreak have been higher."

It was a "timely reminder" for people to check that they and their children were fully immunised against measles.

People who are not immunised and who have had contact with a person with measles were advised to stay away from all public places, school or work for two weeks following contact.

Anyone displaying symptoms of measles - including fever, cough, blocked nose, and sore red eyes - should phone their doctor immediately or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.