Measles

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air by coughing, sneezing, saliva, mucus, or by touching an infected surface. It can survive for up to two hours in the air. A person with measles is most contagious from when symptoms start until three to four days after the rash appears.

Who is at risk of catching measles?

• Anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine after 12 months of age
• Anyone who has not had measles before

Most people born in Aotearoa New Zealand before 1969 are immune to measles. This is because before that time almost everyone had measles as a child.

Measles can lead to serious complications, including:

• Ear infections, which can cause permanent hearing loss
• Diarrhoea
• Pneumonia 
• Swelling of the brain – this is rare, but can cause permanent brain damage or death.

It takes about 10-12 days for your child to develop symptoms after being in contact with someone with measles.

The first symptoms of measles are similar to the cold or flu, so it may be hard to tell it is measles.

Early symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sore and watery pink eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Small white spots on the back inner cheek of the mouth (called Koplik spots).

Day 3-7 symptoms may include:

• A rash that starts on the face, behind the ears, and moves over the head and down the body. It can look like pink or red spots or bumps and is not usually itchy. The rash can last a week or more.

If your child has measles symptoms

• Stay home. Don’t go to work or send your child to day care or school to prevent the spread of infection
• Call PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 or your doctor to check if your child needs to be seen
• Don't go to your doctor's clinic without phoning first, because measles can spread easily to others in the waiting room.

If you or someone in your whānau are diagnosed with measles, your local Public Health Service will contact you to give you advice and support. Public Health staff will let you know what you need to do to keep yourself, your household members and the community safe while you recover.

Tamariki with measles can be very unwell and need lots of care. There’s no specific antiviral treatment for measles once symptoms start, but hospital care (when needed) can help to manage severe complications.

• Check your child’s MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination status. If they have not had the MMR vaccine, get them vaccinated.
• Children usually receive their MMR vaccinations at 12 months and 15 months. It's important to get vaccinated on time – but it's never too late to catch up.
• Parents of infants aged six to 11 months who are concerned about their pēpi being at high risk of exposure can talk to their GP, who may recommend an MMR vaccine dose 0 if they feel it is appropriate. They will still need doses at 12 months and 15 months for immunity.
• Make sure you and the rest of your whānau are vaccinated. If you are born before 1969 (and you’re 50 or older), you are considered to have immunity. People born after that date need to have had two doses for full immunity.
• Infants aged under six months are too young to receive an MMR vaccination, which is why it's so important for the rest of the whānau to be vaccinated.

• Immunisation is the only way to prevent measles.
• It's FREE for anyone to get vaccinated.
• Two doses of the measles vaccine provides the most effective protection for you, your family and the wider community. After one dose of the MMR vaccine, about 95% of people are protected from measles. After two doses, more than 99% of people are protected.
• If you're unsure whether your child has been immunised, or you can't find your records, you can check with your Well Child Tamariki Ora provider, or contact your family doctor.
• If you're still unsure, it's safe to get vaccinated again with two more doses.

Most pregnant people are already immune through a previous MMR vaccination. If you're not sure if you've been immunised, check your records in your Well Child Tamariki Ora or Plunket book, or ask your family doctor.

People who are pregnant should not get the vaccine.  

Pregnant people who catch the measles during pregnancy are at risk of miscarriage, premature (early) labour and having babies with low birth weight. If you are pregnant and know you have encountered someone who has confirmed measles, you should discuss this immediately with your prenatal carer or doctor. 

The Ministry of Health strongly recommends that all travellers to any international destination are vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before they travel. 

Some Pacific islands including American Samoa, the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands are requiring travellers to show evidence they've been vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before arrival. It is also important you carry documented proof of vaccination or evidence of immunity with you. This may include medical records, laboratory tests, immunisation record summaries, or letters from your GP. 

In New Zealand, children receive their first MMR dose at 12 months and their second dose at 15 months as part of the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule. 

However, infants aged from six months who are travelling to an outbreak area should have one dose of MMR at least two weeks before they go. Please note that any child vaccinated before 12 months of age will still need two further doses of MMR in line with the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule. 

People who are not immune, have symptoms of measles or who have been in contact with someone who has measles in the last 14 days should not travel.