Measles is here - is your family protected?

Published Thursday 4 Aug 2016

Several groups of people including patients who attended the Upper Hutt Health Centre at specific times last month may have been infected with measles and are now being contacted by Regional Public Health.

Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads easily from person to person and affects both children and adults. Find out what you can do to protect yourself and your family from measles by clicking the blue story title link above.

Measles is highly contagious and easily preventable

Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads easily from person to person through the air, via breathing, coughing and sneezing. It affects both children and adults.

If you or someone in your family has suspected measles call your family doctor immediately, or the Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice 24 hours a day seven days per week.

Two doses of the measles vaccine is all you need to protect yourself, your family and your community. Vaccination is particularly important if you are planning to travel anywhere overseas - to protect yourself and to help prevent outbreaks in New Zealand.

Check with your family doctor whether you and your family have been fully immunised against measles - especially if you were born after 1968.

Further information is available on our dedicated measles page(public health topics > infectious diseases > measles) alternatively, you can visit the Ministry of Health website atwww.health.govt.nz/measles