Update 5th July.
The measles alert for Raglan Area School was lifted on 2nd July. There is no longer a quarantine in place.
The Waikato Medical Officer of Health, Dr Anita Bell, said anyone travelling during the school holidays break should ensure they’re fully immunised or if they have any measles symptoms, to get checked out by a doctor before going away.
The Waikato school with current quarantine management in place is:
- Maeroa Intermediate – out of quarantine 11 July
Almost a quarter of the confirmed cases are household contacts of a confirmed case and were already placed in quarantine before they were unwell.
“Approximately 80 per cent of cases are aged between 10-20 years of age,” said Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell.
“The other 20 per cent are aged under 10 years and are close contacts of confirmed cases in quarantine as they were not vaccinated. Seven cases have been hospitalised but are now well.”
Of the 95 cases, only four have been immunised with two documented doses of the measles, mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and four cases have received one documented dose of MMR (not fully immunised for dates).
Approximately 50 cases with a clinical illness like measles have been investigated and were found not to have measles.
For more information about measles symptoms and management, visit www.waikatodhb.health.nz/measles (external link)
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Measles has continued to circulate in Hamilton and the surrounding areas and while still largely associated with Fraser High School, there has been one confirmed case at Raglan Area School and single cases at Nga Taiatea Wharekura, Hamilton Girls’ High School and Hamilton Junior High School. Raglan area School will remain open, but only for fully immunised students and staff.
Waikato DHB’s Population Health has issued an order that all students who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine (this will need to be documented either via school records, GP records or a Well Child Book) must stay at home in quarantine until Thursday 3 July 2014. Further information is available on the Area School’s website.
At Raglan’s West Coast Medical Centre a sign on the front door advises patients with measles symptoms not to enter the centre. Instead they are asked to phone in for information.
Dr Bell of the Waikato District Health Board says anyone displaying symptoms of measles, which include fever, cough, blocked nose, sore red eyes, should immediately telephone their doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.
People who are regarded as not immune to measles are:
- People younger than 45 years old (born after 01 January 1969) who have not had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or have not had a laboratory confirmed positive measles result
- Children over four years old who have not received their second dose of MMR
- Infants under the age of 15 months who have not received their first routine dose of MMR vaccine. They are susceptible and rely on everyone else to be immune so that measles does not spread to them
“Anyone born before 1969 or who has received two doses of MMR can reasonably assume they are already immune.”, said Dr Bell.
“Measles can be a very serious illness, with one in three sufferers experiencing complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis or diarrhoea,” said Dr Bell.
Unimmunised people who have had contact with a person with measles, will normally be advised to stay at home and away from all public places, school or work for 14 days after their contact.
If families suspect someone has measles they should call their doctor, where possible, before visiting to avoid spreading the disease while waiting.
Measles is spread by tiny droplets in the air and is one of the few diseases that can spread so easily to those nearby.
Waikato District Health Board’s Population Health service has up to 24 June 2014 had confirmed 77 measles cases in Hamilton in recent weeks – with a significant number associated to Fraser High School. Seventeen of these cases are household contacts of confirmed cases and had already been placed in quarantine before they were unwell.
Five cases have been hospitalised but are now well.
Of the 77 cases, only four have been immunised with two documented doses of the measles, mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and three cases have received one documented dose of MMR.
Thirty three cases with clinical illness like measles have been investigated and were found not to have measles.
The public health unit is investigating about another 14 suspected cases from throughout Hamilton.
“It’s important that with the spread outside of the Fraser High School community, that people make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of measles and to check their child’s immunity status,” said Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell.
“Information has been circulated regarding the increase in cases to all schools, early child care centres and general practice.”
“While one in 10 on average requires hospitalisation, admission rates in this outbreak have been higher.”
She reiterated that immunisation is the best protection from this potentially serious disease.
“Immunisation protects not only the individual, but also blocks the spread of this disease within our communities.”
Unimmunised people who have had contact with a person with measles, will normally be advised to stay at home and away from all public places, school or work for 14 days after their contact.
“Anyone born before 1969 or who has received two doses of MMR can reasonably assume they are already immune.”
If families suspect someone has measles they should call their doctor, where possible, before visiting to avoid spreading the disease while waiting.
Measles is spread by tiny droplets in the air and is one of the few diseases that can spread so easily to those nearby.
Visit www.waikatodhb.health.nz/measles (external link) for Waikato measles information.