NZ Post confirms measles case at Auckland site, as 32 more cases reported

A case of measles has been confirmed at the NZ Post Group premises on Pukekiwiriki Place, Highbrook, Auckland. Image / Google

New Zealand Post has confirmed a staff member at one of its Auckland sites has contracted measles.

It comes as the latest figures from health authorities show 32 people have been confirmed as having the disease since yesterday.

The total number of confirmed cases in Auckland, as of 12pm, now stands at 667, according to figures from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

Of the 32 new confirmed cases, 22 are from the Counties Manukau District Health Board's region alone - which takes its confirmed cases up to 457.

There are now 126 confirmed cases in the Waitematā DHB region - up two from yesterday - and 84 in the Auckland DHB area, 8 more than yesterday.

The NZ Post measles case has resulted in customer service teams running at reduced capacity. People are being warned that there will be delays in some services.

The latest figures from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service show 32 new confirmed measles cases. Image / ARPHS

A spokeswoman said the affected staff member is an employee at a site at 18 Pukekiwiriki Place, in Highbrook, East Tāmaki.

"Anyone who visited [the site] on or after August 17 are considered to be at risk.

"We have been providing public health advice to our people; who are now returning to work once they have confirmed their vaccination status and been given the all-clear.''

The company's national contact centre and customer communications management teams are based in the building.

The spokeswoman said the company was following all public health advice and was also taking on additional cautionary measures to ensure people's safety.

The case was made public via a statement released on the NZ Post website and on its social media channels late last night.

Our service team is at reduced capacity as we manage a measles case. Our phone lines are currently closed. Responses to email, web and social will be delayed. Please click here https://t.co/wer0pVES1r for urgent enquiries. Bear with us as we get our team back up to full strength.

— NZ Post (@nzpost) August 26, 2019

"Our customer service team is running at reduced capacity as we manage a measles case at one of our Auckland sites.

"This means that our phone lines are currently closed,'' the statement said.

People wanting to get in touch with NZ Post are being warned that responses to emails and inquiries via its website and Facebook pages will also be delayed.

Customers with urgent passport or medical-related inquiries are being referred to the website.

"Please bear with us as we get our team back up to full strength.''

The confirmed case comes as health authorities deal with a measles outbreak in Auckland.

As of midday yesterday, there had been 635 confirmed cases in the city this year. That figure, however, had not increased since Sunday.

Of the cases confirmed, the majority had been found in the Counties Manukau District Health Board region.

Health authorities continue to push the message that vaccination is the best form of protection against the contagious disease.

Those most affected are from the Pasifika community with about 46 per cent of measles cases identified as being of Pacific descent.

MEASLES FACTS:

• Measles is a highly infectious viral illness spread by contact with respiratory secretions through coughing and sneezing.

• People are infectious from five days before the onset of the rash to five days after the rash starts.

• Infected persons should stay in isolation - staying home from school or work - during this time.

• The best protection from measles is to have two MMR vaccinations. MMR is available from your family practice and is free for people 1-50 years.

• People are considered immune if they have received two doses of MMR vaccine, have had a measles illness previously, or were born before 1969.

• If you are concerned about measles call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or call your GP. Please do not just turn up to your GP, after hours or emergency department as you could potentially infect others.