Health authorities are confirming new cases of measles in the Bay of Plenty and say more are inevitable as the Waikato region deals with an outbreak.

The Ministry of Health today reported a 'flurry of new cases” in the BOP, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki with 200 cases recorded since December 2013.

New measles cases have been recorded in the Bay of Plenty in the last week.

This follows a recent spate of cases in the Waikato where more than 80 cases were confirmed including infections in five schools.

Toi Te Ora BOP Public Health Service Medical Officer of Health, Dr Neil de Wet, says more cases in the Tauranga region are inevitable.

Since January, the Bay of Plenty has had a number of reported cases causing concern. This includes two cases of visitors to the region with the highly contagious disease.

Though the Bay of Plenty has so far avoided a serious outbreak to same degree as the Waikato, Neil says recent cases are prompting the Ministry of Health to warn people to be cautious and ensure their children are immunised, as it is likely to get worse.

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially serious viral infection which causes flu-like symptoms and a full body rash. In extreme cases, it can lead to pneumonia or inflammation of the brain.

The best way to continue avoiding and preventing the spread of this disease in Tauranga is through receiving the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Most children receive this two stage vaccine when they are 15 months and four-years-old, but many people choose not to or forget to have their children vaccinated.

'The most important thing is that you have been immunised against measles,” says Neil.

'The Measles-Mumps and Rubella vaccine is very effective in preventing measles so once you have had two doses as part of your routine child immunisations; you have a 90 per cent chance of being immune.”

Outbreaks in the Waikato and Auckland secondary schools reveal low immunisation rates in students between the ages of 10 and 18, which emphasises the importance of getting your child immunised, says Neil.

With school holidays approaching, Neil, as well as Associate Minister of Health Jo Goodhew, is encouraging people to catch up on their MMR vaccination if they have never had them, or check up with their doctor if they are unsure, especially if they plan to travel around New Zealand during these holidays.

If you suspect that your child may be exhibiting signs of the measles, phone the Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your Doctor to arrange an appointment that won't expose people to the highly contagious disease.

To learn more about the disease, visit the Toi Te Ora Public Health Service website at http://www.ttophs.govt.nz/