Parent’s urged to protect kids from measles outbreak

10/08/2009 | Measles Outbreak

MidCentral District Health Board is urging parents to make sure their children are fully immunised with the current outbreak of measles in Christchurch and increased cases around the country, especially in Auckland.

A third of the district’s children under 18 months are not immunised against measles and although there are yet to be any cases of measles reported in the district, public health experts warn that due to its highly contagious nature, parents should take every precaution to protect their children.

Measles illness usually starts with a fever, red irritated eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose and cough followed by 3-5 days later a fine red rash which spreads from the face out around the whole body.  People with measles feel very miserable.

“Measles is a highly infectious disease and can cause serious complications especially in very young children or people with underlying medical conditions,” says Dr Jill McKenzie, medical officer of health at MidCentral Health.

“Many people don’t understand the severity of the disease. It can cause chest infection, ear infection, brain inflammation and, in extreme cases, death. Even healthy individuals can be seriously affected by the disease.”

The DHB is advising that vaccination is the best form of protection against measles and asking parents to make sure children under 12 years are up to date with their measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The first does of MMR is typically given at 15 months but, given the severity of the measles outbreak, parents of children from 12 months of age are being encouraged to get the MMR immunisation early.

“If parents are unsure whether or not their child is up to date, they should give their practice nurse a call, they will have this information readily available and can schedule any necessary catch up immunisations,” says Dr McKenzie.  “It’s never too late to have your child protected from this disease.”

Parents who suspect someone in their family may have measles are being asked to contact their doctor immediately by telephone.

“Don’t take measles into the waiting room,” urges Dr McKenzie. “Call your general practitioner for advice and avoid contact with others when infectious. For measles this is the first day of illness until four days after rash starts.

Hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette is also very important for preventing the spread of the disease.”
Parents seeking more information about the MMR vaccine are advised to contact their general practice or visit www.immune.org.nz

Background:

• The MMR vaccine is given in two doses at 15 months and 4 years.
• It protects against measles, mumps and rubella with over 90% of people immunised protected from measles.
• The National Immunisation Register reported that on July 1, 2009, 66% of the district’s under 18 month olds had received the MMR vaccine.
• Measles is an acute viral illness. Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). After three to five days a rash appears at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, then spreads down the body and usually lasts four to six days. Measles is a serious disease, with up to 30 percent of reported cases experiencing one or more complications.  Complications include ear infections (7 percent) pneumonia (6 percent) and brain inflammation (0.1 percent). In previous measles outbreaks, one in one thousand (0.1%) people infected with measles have died.

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945