Measles patient on Auckland flight

A public health alert has been issued after a passenger on board a flight to Auckland was found to have English measles.

The passenger was on Air New Zealand flight NZ734 from Brisbane on November 28.

Medical officer of health Craig Thornley said the disease was highly infectious and could spread rapidly in groups of people who had not been immunised.

He advised anyone on the flight to seek help if they had had symptoms including fever, tiredness, runny nose and cough, which were followed by a red blotchy rash that started on the face and gradually spread down the body.