Second measles case diagnosed in Tairawhiti

22 November 2011

Tairawhiti District Health today urged all people not already protected against measles to ensure they received immunisation immediately, following the diagnosis of a second case of measles in the district. Vaccination is free for anyone born after 1969.

 “Children and adults who are not immune to measles should take this opportunity to get immunised now,” said Medical Officer of Health, Dr Geoff Cramp.

 “If you were born after 1969, have not had the MMR vaccine, and have not had measles… then you are at risk of contracting this serious illness.”

There are now two suspected cases of measles in Gisborne. The new case was diagnosed in general practice and notified to Public Health yesterday. Laboratory results to confirm the diagnoses are expected in the next 24 hours.

Both of those affected are thirteen year-old boys. The first attends Gisborne Intermediate and is much improved since he first became unwell over the weekend. The second boy attends Campion College and remains quite ill at home.

Members of the Tairawhiti Public Health team have excluded non-immunised class contacts of both boys for two weeks. “It’s very important these unimmunised children are isolated at home. If they have caught the disease we need to stop it spreading further in the community and schools,” said Dr Cramp.

“About one in 10 cases of measles need to be admitted to hospital because of complications. With measles you can become extremely ill. In one in every 1000 cases the patient can die.”

The only way to stop catching the measles is to get immunised.

Dr Cramp added that people showing symptoms of measles should phone their doctors prior to arriving, so that the general practice can be ready to put them into an isolated room, so measles is not spread to other people in the waiting area.

ENDS

BACKGROUND

What is measles?

Measles is a serious and highly infectious viral disease that can make people very sick and can lead to hospitalisation or, in rare cases, death.

It is spread from person to person through the air by breathing, sneezing or coughing. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can lead to infection if you are not immunised. One person with measles can pass on the disease to 13 other people who have not been immunised.

The early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and white spots inside the mouth. After 3 to 5 days a rash appears on the face and then moves down the body.

Up to one in 3 people with measles develops complications, including ear infections, pneumonia or diarrhoea. Acute encephalitis (brain inflammation) develops in 1 in 1000 cases, some of whom die and more than one third are left with permanent brain damage. Pregnant women who get measles are at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and having a low birth weight baby.

One in 1000 people with measles may die and one in 10 cases will end up in hospital.

The best protection against measles is immunisation with a vaccine called MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

 Who is at risk of getting measles?

Anyone born after January 1969, who hasn’t had two doses of measles vaccine, or has not had measles already, is at risk of catching the disease. This includes babies, children, and adults.

Anyone with a weakened immune system (for example, people who are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer or people who take high-dose steroid medications) is at risk of measles infection even if they have had measles in the past or been immunised.

When measles is widespread a very small proportion of people who have been immunised may also get measles.

For more information contact Tairawhiti District Health:

Dr Geoff Cramp                                                                        Kathy McVey

Medical Officer of Health                                                          Communications Manager

06 869-0500                                                                            021 223-7094