CDHB Measles Update - 22 July 2009

Another seven children have today been confirmed as having measles, bringing the total number of confirmed or suspected cases in Canterbury to 62 since the outbreak began in June.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink said 39 of the 62 cases in Canterbury have been confirmed as measles.

There are now confirmed or suspected cases across seven high schools, four intermediate schools, seven primary schools and nine early childhood centres in Canterbury. Most of the sick children continue to be aged between 11-16 years old and are being cared for at home.

Dr Pink said it was vital parents kept their children at home if they had measles as it was a highly contagious disease. “Parents who think that their child has any of the symptoms of measles, such as a runny nose, conjunctivitis and a rash, should keep them away from early childhood centres or school,  to avoid spreading it to other children. If they are worried about any of their child’s symptoms, they should telephone their General Practice for advice.”

Dr Pink said half of all the children who have contracted measles since the outbreak began last month were unimmunised.

He said it was important parents checked their children’s immunisations were up-to-date as measles could be a serious disease for some people. So far in Canterbury, five children with measles have been hospitalised.

Children should receive two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination, at 15 months and four years old. However, children and teenagers who have not received their vaccinations on time can still be immunised and should present to their General Practice.

Community and Public Health staff are still trying to identify why some children with measles who had been immunised have become ill with the disease.

“Our investigations have excluded that a defective batch of measles vaccine was a cause of this outbreak,” Dr Pink said. “We are now investigating other reasons why children who have been immunised may have still caught measles.”   

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