Two new cases of measles, with a high-risk measles exposure on a Cook Strait ferry, have been confirmed by Health NZ, bringing the total number of active cases nationally to six.
Of the total measles cases confirmed, one is in Northland, two are in Auckland, two are in Manawatū and one more case is in Nelson.
Four of the cases are linked to a Bluebridge ferry that sailed from Picton to Wellington on October 3 from 2pm to 5.30pm.
About 350 passengers on board have been contacted by Health NZ and provided with health information and advice.
“With six cases of measles now confirmed across the country, and given the links to the latest ferry exposure event, it’s likely there will be more cases in the community which are yet to be reported,” Health NZ’s public health medicine specialist Dr Sharon Sime said.
These new cases are in addition to the 10 reported last week in Northland and one case in the Queenstown-Lakes district.
Twelve cases of measles were confirmed in Northland in September and October, with a separate case being identified in Queenstown and likely linked to international travel, according to health services.
In September, health authorities warned anyone who went to a production at Kerikeri High School to stay home to prevent the spread of measles.
Kerikeri High School principal Mike Clent told the Herald that one student was confirmed as having measles and the school worked with the Public Health Team from Health New Zealand regarding the incident
Sime told Herald NOW there is concern about the spread of measles across New Zealand.
“What we’re really worried about now is that three of our cases are not linked to overseas travel,” Sime said, “so that means they did acquire their measles infection in the community and that could mean there was one infectious measles case that just happened to have travelled around and spread it to all three cases, or it could mean there were multiple measles cases in the community that we’re not aware of.”
Sime said the public needs to pay attention to news of measles spreading in New Zealand.
“We know that our childhood vaccination rates are too low to prevent measles spreading in our community, and although we’re making progress, we need to do better because we need 95% of people to be immune.”
Sime also warned there are gaps in the country’s immunity, especially with older teenagers and adults thinking they are immune.
“Between 1969 and 1992, there was only one measles vaccine on the immunisation schedule and that means, at best, people born through those years will have only received one, and we need them to have received two.
“And then people born between 1992 and 2004, there were changes to the timing of the second measles vaccine that mean many people will have missed out.”
She said on Herald NOW that people need to be aware of the symptoms of measles, which include an initial fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes followed by a rash that starts on the face and then moves down the body.
“If you have any symptoms like that, please stay home and contact your health provider or Healthline for advice.”
Sime said her message to the public is that the best way to prevent measles is through vaccination.
“Some 99% of people who have had two measles vaccines will be completely protected from measles.
“That means you won’t get infected, you won’t get severe illness and you won’t spread it to others.”