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\nThe measles virus, the US CDC says measles is very contagious and can be serious, and anyone who is not protected against the virus is at risk.
\nPhoto: Supplied\/ US CDC\n<\/p>\n
Health officials are warning there’s a strong likelihood measles is spreading in the community after four cases, including two children, were confirmed this week.<\/p>\n
Two cases are in Manawat\u016b, one in Nelson and one in Auckland that was linked to overseas travel.<\/p>\n
Health NZ’s public health medicine specialist Dr Sharon Sime, said there was potential for other cases and officials were investigating locations of interest.<\/p>\n
She said there was a risk of measles outbreaks if it was spreading in the community.\u202f<\/p>\n
Sime told Morning Report, she was “very worried” about the spread.<\/p>\n
This week’s cases were unrelated to a previous outbreak in Northland and a single case in Queenstown last month.<\/p>\n
“Three of these cases are not linked to overseas travel which means there is a very strong likelihood of undetected cases in the community,” Sime said.<\/p>\n
“What it means is there was at least one infectious case that has infected out three cases which could have spread it to others in the community.”<\/p>\n
Sime said one of the infected children was school-aged and it was expected any locations of interest would be published as soon as possible on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The disease is highly contagious and can cause serious and potentially long-term health problems.<\/p>\n
Simes warned the public to be vigilant for symptoms of measles including a cough, runny nose, high fever and red, sore eyes.<\/p>\n
During the last measles epidemic, in 2019, about one in three people needed hospital care.<\/p>\n
Sime said the disease could affects a person’s immune system for months or even years afterwards.<\/p>\n
The best prevention she said was getting vaccinated.<\/p>\n
“It’s very preventable through vaccination. Our vaccination rates are too low, we need to be at 95 percent to stop measles spreading.”<\/p>\n