Measles case sparks outbreak fears - how worried should we be?

New Zealand’s on high alert – after an Auckland ferry worker tested positive for measles.

They were infectious while on board a number of Fullers360 sailings on May 5, at a Kelston supermarket, and Downtown car park.

Two days later, they were at Unichem New Lynn and Pak 'n Save Mt Albert.

The marine crew member had recently travelled to Asia, but they weren’t infectious on their flight home.

So, how concerning is this latest outbreak? And have we not learned anything from our days of Covid?

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland senior lecturer and research virologist Natalie Netzler joins us to take us through the do’s and don’ts when it comes to measles.

After the interview was recorded, Health Minister Simeon Brown released updated Health New Zealand vaccination data.

Just over 80% of all kids are now fully immunised by the age of 2 – the highest rate since 2022.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

 

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