Aotearoa measles alert as unexplained case raises fears of wider community spread

Health New Zealand is urging people to be alert for measles symptoms after confirming a case in Palmerston North with no link to overseas travel and no known source of infection.

The unexplained case has raised concerns that measles may already be spreading in the community, with public health officials investigating where the person became infected.

For Pacific families, the warning comes as measles remains a major concern across the region following recent outbreaks, including in Sāmoa, and renewed calls for people to make sure they are fully vaccinated.

The infected person spent time in both Palmerston North and Wellington between 4 and 18 July, including the busy Matariki weekend, when thousands attended events, concerts and an international sporting fixture.

Health New Zealand Public Health Medicine Specialist Dr Sharon Sime said officials were concerned there could be more cases that have not yet been detected.

"We are concerned that there could be more cases in the community that we are not yet aware of, so we encourage people who were out in Wellington over the weekend of 11 July to 12 July to be extra vigilant for symptoms of measles," she said in a statement.

The 2019 measles epidemic in Sāmoa claimed 83 lives, most of them children under five, and infected more than 5700 people before a nationwide vaccination campaign brought the outbreak under control. Photo/Ministry of Health, Sāmoa

"This weekend was during the school holidays and included Matariki events, concerts, and a large international sports event."

Officials are tracing possible sources of infection and are asking anyone who has recently had measles symptoms, even if they have since recovered, to contact Healthline or their healthcare provider.

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, a runny nose or red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body.

Health NZ says there could be more undetected measles cases in the community and is urging anyone with symptoms to contact Healthline or their healthcare provider. Photo/RNZ

Health officials say the best protection is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Several locations in Palmerston North have been identified as places where people may have been exposed, including Rosie O'Grady's restaurant, Woolworths Broadway, Pizza Hut, The Laundry Room and an NPD petrol station.

Anyone who was at those locations during the listed times is being asked to check the Health New Zealand locations of interest page and follow public health advice.

The latest case follows an earlier measles outbreak centred on the Wellington region.

In May, Health New Zealand confirmed a fourth case and warned it was likely measles was circulating in the community, prompting free MMR vaccinations for everyone aged 12 months and over across Greater Wellington.

Health officials continue to remind people that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness.

Several locations in Palmerston North, including Woolworths Broadway, have been identified as places of interest after a person with measles visited the city in July. People who were at the listed locations are being asked to follow public health advice. Photo/Supplied

Around one in three people infected will need hospital treatment, while complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, death.

For many Pacific families, the warning brings back painful memories of the 2019 measles epidemic in Sāmoa when 83 people died (most of them children under the age of five) after the virus spread rapidly through communities with low vaccination rates.

More than 5700 people were infected before a nationwide vaccination campaign brought the outbreak under control.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says all 21 Pacific island countries and territories had achieved measles and rubella elimination by 2025, showing what high vaccination rates and strong public health programmes can achieve.

But the WHO warns countries must remain vigilant because imported cases can still spark outbreaks where immunity has fallen.

"Immunization has safeguarded the health of millions of people, including children, across our Region," Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said in a media release last month.

Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala says every child who misses a vaccination leaves "a gap in our collective protection", urging countries to continue investing in immunisation programmes across the region. Photo/WHO

"But the latest estimates remind us that progress cannot be taken for granted. Every child who misses vaccination leaves a gap in our collective protection," the Tongan health leader said.

Across the Pacific, health leaders are also working to strengthen vaccination programmes and build public confidence in immunisation.

Leilani Jackson, who leads work on the Polynesian Health Corridors' Vaccinator Pathway, said nurses play a vital role in helping families understand the importance of immunisation.

"This was also one of the areas that the Vaccinator Pathway also supports," she said.

"It's around having safe and informed conversations about the value, about the science behind the vaccines, about the history of vaccines, that it wasn't created yesterday, that vaccines have been put through scientific measures to ensure safety for the community.

"The pathway informs or prepares the confidence and the competence in nurses to have these frank conversations with our community," Jackson told Pulu.

Watch Leilani Jackson's full interview on PMN Tonga below.

Sime said staying up to date with vaccinations remains the best protection against the disease.

"Getting in touch will help us stop the potential spread of more measles in the community. It's important that anyone who has experienced the symptoms of measles recently, even if they have already recovered, get in touch with Healthline on 0800 611 116, or your usual healthcare provider."

Jackson urged Pacific families not to delay routine vaccinations. "Make sure that your children get vaccinated. If you're due your vaccine, please get vaccinated."

WHO says vaccination has prevented an estimated 154 million deaths worldwide since 1974 including around 12 million lives saved through measles vaccination in the Western Pacific region alone.

Health NZ officials say checking vaccination records and seeking medical advice as soon as symptoms appear are the best ways to protect families and prevent another outbreak.

For more information, visit healthnz.govt.nz