Another measles case has been detected, taking the total number of currently known cases nationally to 17.<\/p>\n
Health NZ said the latest case was in Auckland and was linked to a previous overseas-acquired case.<\/p>\n
Cases are currently known in Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Nelson.<\/p>\n
Health Minister Simeon Brown said more Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines would arrive next month. About 117,000 MMR vaccines in storage, with another 28,000 on the way, Brown said.<\/p>\n
He encouraged everyone to ensure they were fully immunised to stamp out the outbreak.<\/p>\n
Pharmac pharmaceutical funding manager Claire Pouwels said earlier that the drug-funding agency maintained “a significant safety buffer” of vaccines.<\/p>\n
“On average, around 15,000 doses are used each month and, during the 2019 outbreak, total usage was 88,130 doses over two months.<\/p>\n
“Based on these figures, we are confident that current stock levels would cover expected usage in an outbreak.”<\/p>\n
In Wellington, where hundreds are considered close contacts, there had been “a significant rise in orders” over the past few days, while demand was also up in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Whang\u0101rei.<\/p>\n
Real fears about the spread of measles in multigenerational living and at big community events \u2013 given it’s so contagious. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
“Pharmac continues to monitor usage closely and can source extra stock quickly, if needed.”<\/p>\n
Tair\u0101whiti Medical Officer of Health Dr Oz Mansoor earlier told Morning Report that, because of vaccination levels, more than 500,000 New Zealanders were susceptible to measles.<\/p>\n
All New Zealanders should be encouraged to check their immunisation records, he said.<\/p>\n
Ask your GP or call the free Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26.<\/p>\n
Wellington Girls’ College: 900 close contacts<\/p>\n
Wellington Girls’ College said it faced a massive task on Sunday afternoon, as it tried to trace hundreds of people who had contact with a measles-infected student.<\/p>\n
The girl was in class on Tuesday and attended prizegiving events on Wednesday. More than 900 people were thought to be close contacts.<\/p>\n
Year 9-11 students at Wellington Girls’ College were told to stay at home until Wednesday, and trips and events had been cancelled on those days.<\/p>\n
Staff would be at the school to help students collect anything they needed for the next three days.<\/p>\n