Measles outbreak in Canterbury: the number of confirmed cases reaches 39

Measles continues to spread in Canterbury and the number of confirmed cases has reached 39.

Two other cases of highly infectious disease have been confirmed since last Thursday, when health authorities announced that they would extend the availability of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to a wider group of people.

A spokesman for the Canterbury District Health Council (CDHB) said the two new cases were women, one aged 12 to 28 and the other 29 to 50 years old. Six other cases were under investigation.

GP teams focused on administering a dose of MMR vaccine to people aged 12 months to 28 years who had never been immunized. One dose of vaccine provides protection against measles to 95% of people.

To help contain the spread of the disease, a second dose of the vaccine is now available to people aged 12 to 28, as well as to caregivers of infants under 12 months of age and those aged 29 to 50. years who work with children.

READ MORE:
* Canterbury measles outbreak: availability of expanded vaccine to new groups
* Passengers on the flight from Melbourne to Christchurch exposed to measles
* Measles outbreak in Canterbury: the number of confirmed cases reaches 35

Of the 39 confirmed cases, one is not related to the current outbreak: a female passenger flew to Christchurch on March 19 from Melbourne on Virgin flight VA99 Australia. She had traveled sick from Southeast Asia.

No other confirmed cases were associated with the robbery.

Dr. Ramon Pink, Canterbury's Medical Officer of Health, said last week that the Canterbury District Health Council (CDHB) thought there would be enough vaccine to extend a second dose to the new groups. In March, 31,000 doses were distributed to general practitioners.

Although the increase in confirmed cases seemed to slow down, Pink cautioned against complacency and advised those with measles-like or non-fully protected symptoms not to attend major meetings. .

A number of vigils and commemorations have taken place since the terrorist attack on Christchurch on March 15.

"We have a lot of problems right now, and it's important not to add further worry about the disease," Pink said last week.

People aged 28 and under were particularly susceptible to measles and were the main spreaders of the disease, said Pink. When the number of cases was 37, 25 occurred in this age group.

On Tuesday, Pink urged parents not to "export measles during these school holidays".

"If you are traveling during these holidays, make sure your tamariki are fully vaccinated before leaving.

"It takes two weeks for one person to be fully immunized after a vaccination, so contact your GP team to find out how to vaccinate your tamariki as soon as you can."

MOLDED FACTS

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted by contact of respiratory secretions by coughing and sneezing.

* Symptoms of measles include:

Respiratory disease with dry cough, runny nose, headache

Temperature above 38.5 C and feeling very bad

A rash with red spots usually begins on days 4 and 5 of the disease, on the face, then on the chest and arms.

* People are contagious from five days before the appearance of the rash to five days after the onset of rash.

* Infected persons must remain isolated – stay at home, at school or at work – during this period.

* People who believe that they have been exposed to measles or who have symptoms should not go to the emergency department or clinic after hours or to a general practitioner. Call your GP at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free health advice.