Measles is a highly infectious disease that is easily spread from an infected person by saliva or mucous droplets when coughing, sneezing or talking. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can lead to infection for those who are not immunised.
As measles is increasing globally, please consider measles in those presenting with symptoms who have recently travelled overseas to countries with active outbreaks.
Children under one year travelling to countries with active measles outbreaks can be offered MMR vaccine from aged 4 months on prescription. Refer to the immunisation handbook or contact IMAC for further detail.
Please maintain clinical vigilance for potential measles. Isolate on suspicion and notify your local public health service immediately.
Please prioritise MMR vaccination activity in practices (recall and opportunistic). Māori and Pacific infants are highest priority populations.
On the Te Whatu Ora website, you will find:
All posters are available in 18 additional languages
The National Immunisation Programme has a Dropbox of Resources to help promote MMR vaccination. These are available for free download.
Te Whatu Ora has created free posters that practices can download such as asking for people to stay home if they have measles and for venues where an exposure event has taken place, to provide details of when the exposure event took place and what potential contacts should do next. Some of these are linked below. All posters are available in 18 additional languages.
The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccination is free for people up to age 32 or anyone born after 1968 that hasn’t had two doses.
The first dose of MMR vaccine is due at 12 months of age. Vaccination is vital due to the risk of severe disease in this age group. Ensure tamariki are recalled before their first birthday so this dose can be delivered on time.
Is your patient population up to date with both doses of MMR? Please be aware that many children have missed out on their scheduled MMR during the last three years due to lockdowns.
There are also a number of people aged 17-32 years who have missed out on 2 doses of MMR. Please offer opportunistic vaccination to this cohort.
MMR is contraindicated in pregnancy because it is a live vaccine but can be given immediately post-partum.
Your local public health team will advise regarding vaccination of any close contacts. The MMR vaccine, if given within 72 hours of exposure to measles virus, may provide protection to the unimmunised and help limit the spread of measles.
Please call IMAC with any questions regarding vaccination of your patient, particularly if the person is immunocompromised.
Primary care is encouraged to find out if their staff are immune to measles. If there is measles exposure on-site, immunisation records may be requested.
As measles is highly infectious, an urgent public health response is required to control any potential outbreak. Clinicians are reminded to notify all suspected measles cases immediately to the local Medical Officer of Health.
Do not wait for laboratory confirmation before notifying.
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