Several reported measles cases in Waikato have prompted a warning from a Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health.
Dr Neil de Wet, from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service, says the Waikato cases are a timely reminder to ensure that children are up-to-date with their immunisations.
There have been no cases of measles reported in the Bay of Plenty.
'There are currently no measles cases in the Bay of Plenty,” says Neil.
The Waikato Public Health Unit has been notified of three cases of measles, a highly infectious viral illness, says a statement released by the Waikato District Health Board.
The first case appears to have introduced the virus on returning from a trip overseas, passing it on to the others.
'During their infectious periods the three people attended Waikato Hospital Emergency Department on the Friday, March 25, Monday, April 4, and Saturday, April 9, respectively.
'If you attended Waikato Hospital Emergency Department on those dates you may have been exposed to the measles virus.”
Medical Officer of Health, Dr Felicity Dumble has circulated information about the outbreak to emergency departments and general practices.
'These are the same measures we had to put in place during the outbreaks of 2014 and 2015. We learnt very early that we had to be very strict with the quarantine and by being strict it will prevent further cases at the school.
'It's a timely reminder to everyone else to check that they and their children are fully immunised against measles. Vaccination affords full immunity in the vast majority of cases.”
Neil says the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunisation provides effective protection against measles and is usually given at 15 months and again at 4 years of age as part of the routine childhood immunisations.
'It's never too late to catch up if these immunisations have been missed.”
For information about measles, visit www.ttophs.govt.nz/measles
5 comments
Vaccination Effects?
Posted on 13-04-2016 13:31 | By Conzar
What are the effects of the MMR as listed on the product sheet? Is there any compensation here in NZ if a child is injured from vaccination like the vaccine court in the USA (which has awarded over $3 billion in injuries)?
Minority irresponsible, majority suffers
Posted on 13-04-2016 14:05 | By Amnesia Oasis
Measles is an easily preventable disease by vaccination. Why should the responsible parents who vaccinate their kids have to shoulder the extra burden on the public health system created by the irresponsible parents who refuse to vaccinate their kids. I guarantee that if these irresponsible parents had their child welfare payments cut accordingly, we would see a sudden and dramatic increase in vaccinations and a consequent drastic reduction in the incidence of school measles outbreaks. In other words, "no jab, no pay"!
WOW!
Posted on 13-04-2016 19:00 | By astex
A whole THREE cases in Waikato Hospital. Grief, I can remember when there were ten times that many in our street. A very highpercentage of my generation got the measles and very few had any lasting problems. It is NOT irresponsible not to have your child immunised if you fear the possible risk of the injection is higher than the possible consequences of the illness. Responsible parents of unvaccinated kids do the same as our parents did. Keep them home, lots of fluids and in a very high percentage of cases there will be no problem. Obviously, if the child gives concern you then get medical advice. I wonder what the next scare tactic will be from the drug companies to boost profits?
Irresponsible behavior
Posted on 14-04-2016 09:57 | By Amnesia Oasis
In August 2015 NZ experienced an outbreak of pertussis. Of approximately half of the cases, the patient had not been immunized against it, or their vaccinations were not up-to-date. Infants are most at risk from pertussis, which causes severe coughing and can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, convulsions and even death. This is WHY we vaccinate. To prevent children becoming sick or dying. It's not some conspiracy by the pharmaceutical companies. We should count ourselves extremely fortunate here in NZ that we live in a country where this option is open to us. Many less fortunate countries in the world do not have this option. To not take advantage of it on a voluntary basis is extremely irresponsible behavior.
Ignorance
Posted on 14-04-2016 11:43 | By Politically Incorrect
It's fair to say that a lot of the anti-vaccine brigade are ignorant of what a vaccine actually is. In this instance, it's deactivated strains of the virus itself, just enough to allow the immune system to build up a resistance to the virus. It's odd how you don't want a small amount of the virus to enable you or your children to be safe from the full virus, but you'd prefer them to just outright get the full affect, and risk permanent damage or death. Not saying all vaccines, or indeed any medications, are safe - new ones have to be proven - but these MMR jabs have been around for a lifetime. Pick your battles, don't play with lives.
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