Regional Public Health (RPH), Wellington has been notified of two confirmed cases of measles and is asking people who may have been in contact with these people to watch out for symptoms. The infected people visited several public places before they were diagnosed. At these times the people did not know they had measles.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Craig Thornley is asking members of the public who visited the following locations at the relevant times, to find out if they are protected from measles and be aware of the signs and symptoms (more details below).
Monday 7 October:
City Fitness Johnsonville, 8 Broderick Road, Johnsonville: 6am – 8.30am.
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from now until Monday 21 October inclusive.
Tuesday 8 October:
City Fitness Johnsonville, 8 Broderick Road, Johnsonville: 6am – 8.30am.
Neo Café and Eatery, 132 Willis Street, Wellington: 9am – 4.30pm
Sprig and Fern Tavern, Jackson Street, Petone: 7pm – 10.15pm
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from now until Tuesday 22 October inclusive.
Wednesday 9 October:
City Fitness Johnsonville, 8 Broderick Road, Johnsonville: 6am – 8.30am.
Neo Café and Eatery, 132 Willis Street, Wellington: 7am – 4.30pm
New World Thorndon, 150 Molesworth Street, Thorndon: 4.30pm – 6pm
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from Wednesday 16 October until Wednesday 23 October inclusive.
Thursday 10 October:
City Fitness Johnsonville, 8 Broderick Road, Johnsonville: 6am – 8.30am.
Neo Café and Eatery, 132 Willis Street, Wellington: 7am – 1pm
New World Thorndon, 150 Molesworth Street, Thorndon: 4.30pm – 6pm
Wellington Hospital Emergency Department: 3.30pm – 10pm
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from Thursday 17 October until Thursday 24 October inclusive.
Friday 11 October:
City Fitness Johnsonville, 8 Broderick Road, Johnsonville: 6am – 8.30am.
New World Chaffers, 279 Wakefield Street, Wellington: 1pm – 6pm
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from Friday 18 October until Friday 25 October inclusive.
Saturday 12 October:
City Fitness Thorndon, 75 Thorndon Quay, Wellington: 8.30am – 10am
Michael Fowler Centre (Dylan Moran show): 7pm – 11pm
Be aware of the symptoms of measles from Saturday 19 October until Saturday 26 October inclusive.
Measles Symptoms
Symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes. A few days later a rash starts on the face and neck, before spreading to the rest of the body.
"You are most at risk if you’re not immune to measles, either because you haven’t been vaccinated or you haven’t had the disease previously. People who are not immune may start experiencing symptoms over the next week," Dr Thornley says.
Anyone over the age of 50 years is considered immune as they would have been exposed to the virus as a child. Other people can check their Well Child or Plunket book for at least one measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Anyone who was at the above locations at the specified times, who feels unwell, should phone their doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.
Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease that spreads easily through the air via coughing and sneezing.
If you do start to develop symptoms that could be measles, contact your doctor. Be sure to call ahead to prevent potentially infecting others in the waiting room.
Vaccination with the MMR offers the best protection against measles. One dose will prevent measles in 95 per cent of people, while having two doses will protect 99 per cent of people who have the vaccine.
For more information about measles, visit the Regional Public Health website (http://www.rph.org.nz/measles/) and the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz/measles).
