The risk of measles being brought back into New Zealand by travellers is currently very high. Immunisation is the best protection and will help to prevent the spread of measles in our local communities.
Measles Te mate karawaka
Measles is a very contagious viral illness that spreads easily between people and makes most people feel very unwell. It can also cause serious health problems, including runny poos (diarrhoea), chest infections and brain swelling. About 1 in 3 people with measles will need hospital care. The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing measles. Across Aotearoa New Zealand, people’s immunity to measles is very low as not enough people are fully immunised against the illness. This puts us at high risk of an outbreak.
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How measles spreads
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses. It spreads very easily from person to person by breathing in air after a person with measles has sneezed, coughed, talked or even just breathed. Measles can also be spread after touching tissues, toys or other surfaces contaminated with an infected person’s nose and throat secretions (snot and saliva).
The measles virus can stay in the air even after the person with measles has left the room or area.
If you are not immune and have had face-to-face contact with someone with measles, or have been in the same room as them, you are very likely to catch it.
Symptoms of measles
The first symptoms of measles are similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, COVID-19 or flu (influenza) which means it can be hard to know you have measles.
Symptoms of measles are:
- fever (a temperature of at least 38°C)
- cough
- runny nose
- sore, red eyes
- rash.
The rash develops 3 to 4 days after the other symptoms. The rash appears as pink or red spots or bumps which start on the face before moving down the rest of the body. The rash may be more difficult to see on darker skin. The rash is not usually itchy. It can last for a week or more.
A key feature of measles is that a fever is still present when the rash develops.
Measles symptoms usually start within 10 to 14 days after you are first exposed to the virus. They can start anytime between 7 to 21 days.
Who to contact for medical advice
If you or someone you know has symptoms that you are worried about, contact one of the following healthcare providers or services for health advice and support:
- call your usual GP, doctor, Hauora or healthcare provider
- call Healthline free on 0800 611 116, anytime 24/7
- call 111 for an ambulance in an emergency.
Complications from measles
Measles is a serious illness that makes most people feel very unwell. It usually takes at least 1 to 2 weeks to recover from measles.
Complications are common, and 1 out of 3 people with measles will be sick enough to need hospital care. Complications include:
- ear infections
- runny poos (diarrhoea)
- lung infections (pneumonia)
- swelling of the brain (encephalitis) — this is rare but can cause permanent brain damage or death
After you recover from measles, your immune system is weakened and it can take from a few months to 3 years to fully recover. This means you are more likely to get sick with other infectious illnesses.
People at higher risk of complications
Although anyone with measles can develop complications, they are more common for:
- tamariki under 5
- pregnant people — measles can make a pregnant person very sick and may cause a miscarriage
- people with weakened immune systems.
People who are at risk of measles
Anyone who is not immune to measles can get infected if they are exposed to someone who has measles.
You are considered immune to measles if either or these apply:
- you had 2 doses of a measles vaccine after 12 months of age
- you have had measles before.
Most people born in Aotearoa before 1969 are immune to measles. This is because before that time almost everyone had measles as a child.
Checking if you are immune to measles
If you are not immune to measles and you travel overseas, you could be at risk of getting measles.
Diagnosing measles
If you think you might have measles, it is very important that you stay home and seek medical advice.
Who to contact for medical advice
Because measles is so contagious, it is important to call your healthcare provider before you visit them in person. This is so the healthcare facility can prepare for your arrival and help prevent anyone you come into contact with from being exposed to measles. Your healthcare provider will also give you advice on what to do when you arrive. Follow their advice and wear a mask during your visit if you have one.
Testing for measles
If your healthcare provider suspects measles, they will take a throat or nasal swab to test for the measles virus.
Stay home while you are waiting for your test results
You should stay home while you wait for your test results. This will usually take a few days. If your test is positive for measles, you will be contacted by your local Public Health Service who will advise you on what to do next. If your test shows you do not have measles, your healthcare provider will let you know.
If you have measles
If you have measles your local Public Health Service will contact you to provide you with advice and support. Public Health staff will let you know what you need to do to keep yourself, your household members and the community safe while you recover from the illness.
A person with measles is contagious — meaning they can spread measles to other people — from 4 days before until 4 days after their rash first started to show. This means they can spread the illness to others before they are aware they have it themselves.
One person with measles could infect 18 other people if those people are not immune to measles.
Staying home in isolation
To prevent spreading measles to others, you must stay at home (isolate) and not go to work or school for 4 days after your rash first appeared. Public Health staff will confirm the exact date that your official isolation period will end.
After your isolation ends, you may still not feel well enough to return to work or school. In this case it is recommended that you continue to stay at home until you feel better and have fully recovered from measles.
Treating measles
There is no specific treatment for measles once symptoms have started. Your healthcare provider will give you advice to help you manage your symptoms.
If you or a household member starts feeling very unwell, you may need to go to hospital for treatment. In an emergency, call 111.
If you have been exposed to someone with measles
If you spent time with someone with measles while they were contagious, Public Health staff will get in touch with you to check if you could be a close contact.
Close contacts are people who have been in the same room or had face-to-face contact with someone who is contagious with measles.
You might also be considered a close contact if you were present at a measles location of interest (a place a person with measles visited).
You can check current locations of interest.
Measles: Locations of interest in Aotearoa New Zealand
If you have been to a location of interest, phone Healthline for free advice, anytime 24/7.
Checking if you are immune to measles
One of the first things Public Health staff will do is check if you are immune to measles.
If you do not have any records to show that you are immune, you may be asked to get a blood test. If test results confirm that you are immune to measles, you will not have to take any further action to keep yourself and others safe.
If you are not immune to measles
If you are not immune to measles, Public Health staff will provide you with information on what you need to do. This will include having to stay home (for close contacts this is known as quarantine) for at least 8 days, starting from day 7 after the day you first had contact with the person with measles.
You will need to stay home even if you do not feel sick. This is because you can spread measles to other people before you have symptoms and you know you are infected.
Public Health staff will check on you regularly while you are in quarantine.
Preventing measles
The best protection against measles is the free measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Learn about the vaccine, who needs it, and when to get it.
Get immunised before you travel overseas
If you are travelling anywhere overseas, make sure you are protected against measles before you go.