A passenger who flew into Christchurch from Australia had the measles, adding to the regional outbreak of more than 35 cases.
A person onboard Virgin Australia Flight VA99 on March 19 has the disease and travelled while they were infectious.
The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has urged anyone on the flight unsure about their immunisation status to check with their doctor, and to stay home and remain isolated until April 3 if they are not fully vaccinated.
Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health says people from the flight who may have measles should stay in self-imposed isolation until Tuesday 2 April 2019 (7-14 days after your contact with measles).
“If you were on this flight and aren’t fully immunised against measles, you should also call anyone you have been in the same room with today to let them know that they too have been exposed to measles. This new secondary set of contacts will need to remain isolated for 14 days unless they are fully immunised.
“This means staying home from school or work and having no contact with unimmunised people. If your vaccinations are up-to-date, you will have the best protection available. However, please be aware that General Practices are currently prioritising people who have never been vaccinated,” the doctor explains.
People are considered fully protected from measles if they:
- Have had two doses of the MMR vaccine
- Have had clinically confirmed measles
- Were born before 1969
According to Stuff, general practices in the region are conducting a major vaccination drive with MMR vaccine to protect people against measles. There had been 31,000 vaccines distributed to general practices in March.
