Measles outbreak grows to 13 cases as Health NZ warns of high risk

Health NZ has recently said the risk of further measles cases, contacts and exposures across the country remains 'very high'. Photo / File

There are two new measles cases across the country, which have brought the outbreak’s total to 13.

Health NZ has recently said the risk of further measles cases, contacts and exposures across the country remains “very high”.

There are currently 13 known measles cases, and the number of close contacts has risen to about 2100.

Health NZ’s Dr Nick Chamberlain announced two cases have been recorded today.

The first case in Auckland was considered a close contact.

The other case is also in Auckland and currently has no links to any other cases.

Chamberlain said NZ is still in the earlier stages of an outbreak.

Director of public health Corina Grey said some of the cases have been hospitalised.

University of Canterbury senior lecturer in epidemiology, Anna Howe, told The Front Page she thinks there is community transmission and we’re sitting in an “extremely precarious position”.

“It’s just a case of waiting a few more weeks, probably to see how bad it’s going to get.

“Measles is one of our most infectious diseases, and so in an unvaccinated population, one person can potentially make 12 to 18 other people sick,” she said.

Measles is so infectious that it requires an immunity rate of at least 95% in the community to prevent spread.

Health NZ said getting two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age protects 99% of people from measles and is free for most people.

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