Measles is a highly infectious illness, which can affect adults as well as children and babies. Photo: 123RF
A Wairarapa family of three with measles did the right thing by contacting officials early, health authorities say.
The National Public Health Service is supporting the family and their close contacts, who are isolating.
One visited the Pak'nSave supermarket in Masterton on Tuesday and Thursday mornings last week.
They also visited Carterton Library that same Thursday morning.
Health officials said anyone who had visited the locations should consider themselves a casual contact and monitor for symptoms.
Wellington Medical Officer of Health Dr Annette Nesdale said the family had been overseas and called officials as soon as they thought they might have measles.
"Healthline gave them really good advice around how to visit the emergency department without posing any infection risk to staff or other patients," Nesdale said.
Nesdale said people who were at the locations of interest at the specified time should check their vaccination status.
"That's really important for two reasons. One is, if you're not currently protected, now is a really good opportunity for you to find out and get an additional dose or start your measles vaccinations if you don't have it," Nesdale said.
Officials would not say which country the family had visited.
They said people in the region who had recently returned from overseas should watch for symptoms such as a high fever, runny nose or sore, red eyes and a rash which began on the face and gradually spread down the body to the arms and legs.
Nesdale said the rash could typically last for about a week.
"Measles is a serious and highly infectious illness, which can affect adults as well as children and babies.
"Please phone ahead before visiting your doctor or healthcare provider so the provider can take precautions to prevent measles spreading," Nesdale said.
Nesdale said the contagious nature of measles meant it was vital to lift the immunisation rates - not just in the Wairarapa - but across the entire country.
"As of 11 May, 84.1 percent of children aged one to five years old in the Wairarapa were fully immunised against measles. This - while slightly higher than the national rate at 82 percent - is still well short of the 95 percent needed for herd immunity to ensure protection for everyone against future outbreaks," Nesdale said.
Immunity gaps meant adults who lived in New Zealand between 1969 and 2004 should also make sure they were fully protected against measles, she said.
The combination of the country's low immunisation coverage and large outbreaks occurring in countries such as the US, Canada, the UK, Vietnam, Thailand and India meant the country was at high risk of a measles outbreak, she said.
"This is why before travelling overseas, we encourage everyone to make sure they are fully protected against measles. We also urge anyone in the region who has recently returned from an overseas trip, to be watchful for measles symptoms," Nesdale said.
There were a number of vaccinating pharmacies across the Wairarapa listed on the Healthpoint website and a drop-in clinic at Masterton Intermediate School Dental Clinic was also running every Thursday from 3 to 6pm.
South Wairarapa mayor Martin Connelly said he didn't want the community to be concerned but he agreed with health authority's calls for people to check their measle vaccination status.
"Measle vaccines are kind of a new thing [and] vaccines have come under the spotlight light a bit but in a bad way in my view because vaccines clearly are one of the most deepest and efficacious ways to avoid quite a large number of illnesses and diseases," Connelly said.
The MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella is free to anyone under 18 and people who are eligible for free healthcare.
