Passengers Potentially Exposed to Measles

Important Message for Passengers Potentially Exposed to Measles

Travellers who arrived in Auckland on Tuesday 11th January on an Emirates flight from Brisbane may have been exposed to measles, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) has today advised.
“We have been notified of three measles cases who were all passengers on Emirates Flight EK434 - which departed Brisbane and arrived in Auckland at 5.30pm on the 11th January,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr Cathy Pikholz .

“Measles is a serious illness and one in ten people with measles need hospital treatment. Measles is infectious before the rash appears.

“The three passengers with measles would have been infectious at the time of their travel on this flight. They were travelling as part of a group who travelled to the Philippines and Singapore .

“Passengers who were on the flight may now be experiencing symptoms, if they have been infected.”

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service says any passengers on that flight who feel they may be unwell should telephone their GP or call Healthline on 0800 611-116 for advice. It is important to call first because measles is highly infectious and people with measles can infect others in the waiting room.

“Measles is easily spread through the air, and people sitting in a row close to an affected passenger are potentially at risk. Even people sitting further away could have been infected, for example, while walking past the passengers with measles, or while waiting in the airport gate lounge.”

Measles Symptoms
Dr Cathy Pikholz , Medical Officer of Health for the Auckland Regional Public Health Service says the typical symptoms of measles are:
• The first symptoms are a fever, runny nose and sore red eyes.
• Then after a few days a red blotchy rash comes on and lasts up to one week. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
• Children and adults with measles are often very sick.

“If you were on that flight and you detect any of those symptoms, please call your GP, or call Healthline toll free at any hour of the day or night on 0800 611-116,” says Dr Pikholz.
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“People should not go directly to a doctor’s office or to an emergency department, because if they do have measles they might infect other people.”

Dr Pikholz says measles is now rare in New Zealand , thanks to vaccination. We had three outbreaks in 2009/2010, each of which was started by people who were infected overseas.

“ People tend to underestimate measles - the reality is it can be a nasty disease.

“Measles can’t be treated once you get it, so the only way to prevent the disease is through immunisation.

ENDS

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