Stuff.co.nz
AMY MAAS
July 6, 2011
Auckland’s measles outbreak is worsening with 50 people now confirmed to have the disease, a number expected to rise.
At least four sufferers have been hospitalised.
“These new cases have been in several early childhood centres and we are now working with those centres to quarantine susceptible contacts at home in case they develop measles,” said Dr Richard Hoskins, Auckland Regional Public Health Service Medical Officer of Health.
Of the over 400 people contacted by the ARPHS over the outbreak, not counting schools ”over 200 have been assessed as immune to measles and do not need to be in quarantine”, he said.
The rest, Hoskins said, either did not know their immune status or were not immune.
“Both of these groups need to stay in quarantine, either until after the risk period of 14 days since last contact with an infectious person or until a blood test shows they are immune.”
He said measles was a serious and highly infectious disease and people needed to get immunised – a free procedure for children, young people and unimmunised adults.
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