Measles alert in Queenstown

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A Queenstown resident with measles is being treated in isolation, the Southern District Health Board says.

The patient who is infectious had visited several locations in Queenstown including a restaurant and a hair salon before they realised they were infected.

The infected individual had already visited Queenstown Medical Centre while they were ill.

Public Health South urges anyone who may have been in the following locations during the specified periods who are not sure if they are immune to measles to check their status with their general practitioner.

• Seoul Garden Restaurant in O'Connell Mall October 5-9 (Queenstown).
• Bus service between Lake Hayes Estate and downtown Queenstown at 8:50am on October 6.
• Crew Stylists in the Louis Vuitton Building, The Mall, October 5 (Queenstown).

Those who encountered the patient at the medical centre and close personal contacts have been offered a vaccination to reduce their risk of contraction.

Southern DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Marion Poore said that it can take 10-14 days for a person infected with measles to develop symptoms.

"We're asking people who haven't been immunised and who may have been in contact with the case to keep a close eye out for these symptoms.

"If you develop symptoms, stay home and phone your general practice or Healthline (0800 611 116) and let them know that you have potentially been in contact with a confirmed measles case," Dr Poore said.

Public Health South are exploring ways to make vaccination more widely accessible to the Wakatipu community.