New Zealand: measles alerts in Auckland

After a new measles case was confirmed in the Auckland area, health authorities have issued several alerts for the city and its surroundings. The infected individual is a crew member on a Fullers360 ferry, who probably contracted the disease abroad. While infectious, they worked on ferries and visited Woolworths Kelston and an Auckland car park. Therefore, Health New Zealand asked everyone potentially in contact with the person to look for symptoms and contact healthcare providers if needing help. Fullers360 confirmed that the infected patient is one of its crew members and notified the information to Auckland Transport (AT), which also manages the car park visited by the case. AT spokesperson Blake Crayton-Brown said they would be talking to staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed. He added that the company will talk with employees about the importance of vaccination against measles. The person with measles is currently supported at home, with close contacts in quarantine to prevent the risk of spreading the disease.
New Zealand’s high immunisation rates have significantly dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, creating gaps in the “herd protection” against measles. Recently, experts have warned that the country could soon experience a major outbreak, urging families to vaccinate their children.