Measles Outbreak

What You Need to Know

Aotearoa is at high risk of a measles outbreak. Te mate karawaka (measles) is one of the most contagious viruses and spreads easily through the air via coughing, sneezing, or even talking. If you’re not immune, you can catch it just by being in the same room as someone who has it.

Symptoms include:
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sore, red eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Rash starting on the face and spreading down the body

The measles rash appears 3 to 4 days after early symptoms. It begins as pink or red spots or bumps on the face, then spreads down the body.

Te mate karawaka (measles) can make people seriously unwell. Most people take at least 1 to 2 weeks to recover, but for many, the illness is more severe.

About 1 in 3 people with measles will need hospital care due to complications, which can include:
• Ear infections
• Diarrhoea
• Lung infections like pneumonia
• Swelling of the brain (encephalitis)

If you or your tamariki develop any of these symptoms, please call us before visiting in person. This helps protect others in our hapori, especially those who are more vulnerable like tamariki under 5, pregnant wāhine, or people with weakened immune sytems.

Getting vaccinated is the best protection for you, your whānau, and the wider hapori.