A confirmed measles case prompts immunisation warning

MEDIA ADVISORY

March 9, 2014

A confirmed measles case prompts immunisation warning

The Canterbury District Health Board is urging parents to immunise their children following a Christchurch child being confirmed as having measles last week.

The child had had a first dose of measles vaccine but had not yet had its second dose due at four years of age.

Dr Daniel Williams, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, says advice has been given to parents at the two preschools the child attends.

“The advice urges parents who have not immunised their children to do so. People who choose not to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases are putting not only their own children at risk, but also other people’s children,” Dr Williams says.

Community and Public Health are continuing to contact trace to determine the source of the child’s infection. At this stage the source remains unknown.

Dr Williams says the fact the child received one dose of vaccine has helped reduce the severity of symptoms, with just a mild illness.

While the measles vaccine is highly effective, as long as the disease is circulating it remains a threat to everyone as no vaccine is 100 percent effective all the time. That’s why we need to keep lifting our rates of immunisation across the board if we are to be successful in eradicating measles.

New Zealand’s target for immunisation coverage is 95 percent of children are fully immunised by eight months and then two years of age. Canterbury has 93 percent coverage for eight month olds and has achieved the 95 percent target for two year-olds.

“Immunisation can protect people against harmful diseases, which can cause serious complications, including death. It is one of the most effective, and cost-effective medical interventions to prevent disease,”Dr Williams says.

“To be best-protected, babies, children and adults all need to be immunised on time, every time. While it is best to immunise on time, every time – it is never too late to start.”

Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing.

For more information on immunisation speak to your General Practice team.

ENDS

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