National Health Advisory: Notification of Measles, 19 August 2016 22 Aug 2016

ARPHS has been notified a new importation of measles in an unimmunised traveller returning from Indonesia and Malaysia.

ADVISORY SUMMARY:

POTENTIAL MEASLES CONTACTS ACROSS NEW ZEALAND

EXPOSURE AT K ROAD CITY TRAVELLERS HOSTEL IN AUCKLAND 8 TO 13 AUGUST

ARPHS has been notified a new importation of measles in an unimmunised traveller returning from Indonesia and Malaysia. The case was infectious from 8/8 until 17/8/2016. The case was resident at the above backpackers hostel in Auckland for 5 days (8/8-13/8/2016) during the infectious period. ARPHS has identified 26 contacts exposed there, with five of these already having travelled to other jurisdictions in NZ, and two already having left New Zealand.  ARPHS have passed the details of the five contacts who have travelled nationally to the relevant PHUs (Southland/Otago, BoPDHB, Taranaki and Waikato), but there is the potential for more contacts/further travel so it would be prudent to be alert for cases across the country.

Those who remained at the backpackers have been quarantined in place until immunity is proven, but it is already apparent that a number will not be immune and secondary cases are expected. ARPHS is working closely with the hostel management to identify and contact remaining guests and ex-guests.