A measles outbreak in Auckland has Bay of Plenty medical officers worried, despite no cases of the disease being reported in the region this year.

Toi te Ora Public Health medical officer of health Dr Jim Miller says there are no cases reported in the Bay at this stage.

'There are concerns because of the outbreak in Auckland. While our immunisation rates are improving they're still not at a level to give us a lot of confidence,” says Jim.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Richard Hoskins says since nine of the cases are not able to be linked to cases from Oratia, plus another from overseas, the focus must now be on immunisation.

The total number of confirmed cases, in what is described as Auckland's largest outbreak this year, is 39.

'Given the level of community spread, this is the only option remaining to try to limit the spread of measles,” says Richard.

'We would like to echo that children's immunisation rates should be kept up-to-date and parents should think about that, especially with an outbreak in New Zealand,” says Jim.

People born before 1969 are likely to be immune, but younger people are being advised to check their records to see if they were immunised when they were a child.

'People should also be mindful if they travel overseas, as many cases are contracted abroad,” says Jim.