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The current affirmation of recent measles circumstances unconnected to worldwide journey suggests the extremely contagious illness has doubtless began spreading by way of communities, in keeping with Well being New Zealand.
It is a stark reminder of the pending hazard of a bigger measles outbreak. To stop transmission as soon as the measles virus has been launched, a inhabitants immunity of round 95%, evenly distributed all through communities, is critical.
New Zealand doesn’t have this degree of vaccination protection and the principle strategy to stop an outbreak now’s to give attention to growing the immunity of youngsters and on closing the “immunity gap” within the inhabitants.
Whereas New Zealand has used the measles vaccine since 1969, a nationwide immunization register was solely launched in 2005. And not using a nationwide register to offer the historic immunization report, estimates are that solely round 80% of individuals born within the Eighties and Nineties are protected towards measles.
Though vaccination charges of youngsters have at occasions reached greater than 90% because the introduction of the register, the overall has by no means reached the required 95%. Immunization protection has persistently remained decrease amongst Māori youngsters and extra just lately additionally Pacific youngsters.
To stem additional unfold, we should construct on the teachings from New Zealand’s final main measles outbreak in 2019.
That 12 months, Auckland skilled a big and severe measles outbreak—the biggest since 1997—affecting infants, younger youngsters and adults. There have been greater than 2,000 circumstances and about 35% required hospital care, regardless of the very fact most individuals who contracted measles had been beforehand match and wholesome.
A number of the severe and lasting issues included encephalitis (mind irritation), pregnant ladies shedding infants, and kids needing prolonged life-saving intensive care.
Whereas acute measles could be extreme, our subsequent analysis reveals that measles an infection is related to a long-term elevated danger of different infections.
We discovered that individuals who had measles within the 2019 outbreak had extra hospital admissions not associated to measles and extra antibiotic prescriptions within the 4 years following the outbreak, in comparison with wholesome controls.
Whereas the impact was extra pronounced for individuals whose measles an infection was extreme and wanted hospital care, we additionally noticed a long-lasting impact for these with milder infections.
The severity of this outbreak may have been prevented if extra individuals had been protected with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Immunization protection is missing
Immunization protection for the MMR vaccine (given at 12 and 15 months of age) reveals New Zealand’s vaccination charges aren’t sufficient to forestall an outbreak in youngsters below 5.
Information from June 2025 reveals solely 82% of two-year-olds are totally immunized with two doses of the vaccine. This leaves not less than one in 5 unprotected.
Infants below one 12 months of age aren’t protected as a result of the primary MMR dose is barely given at 12 months. That is notably worrying as younger infants have very excessive charges of hospitalization and issues from measles. Within the 2019 outbreak, there have been greater than 250 circumstances in infants and greater than half of them had been hospitalized.
Information additionally present the burden of the 2019 outbreak was not equitable and these inequities persist in immunization protection right this moment. Gaps in protection create swimming pools of vulnerable people, rife for measles to take maintain and unfold.
What can be clear from the current measles circumstances is that our historical past of insufficient measles vaccination has left younger adults weak to an infection.
This occurs at an age when they can journey abroad, with the unintentional penalties of bringing measles residence to their whānau (household), together with unimmunized pēpi (infants).
This could be notably regarding if a measles outbreak had been to take maintain earlier than the summer time holidays. Even a couple of circumstances in New Zealand may make us the supply of outbreaks for different Pacific nations.
In late 2019, measles imported from New Zealand resulted in 5,700 circumstances in Samoa, together with 1,800 hospitalizations and 83 deaths from measles (87% of those deaths had been youngsters below 5).
Consciousness and prevention
Anybody below 50 years of age who’s experiencing a fever, rash, cough and runny nostril ought to suppose measles, notably in the event that they returned from journey prior to now three weeks, are unimmunized or a contact of a current case. They need to name HealthLine (0800 611 116) for recommendation earlier than visiting a GP or hospital, until severely unwell.
If doubtful, vaccinate. The health-sector response to the 2019 outbreak advisable GPs proceed to actively recall unvaccinated youngsters after checking the nationwide immunization register.
For anybody not sure if they’ve had two doses of the measles vaccine, it’s protected to get a dose in keeping with the Immunization Advisory Heart if they aren’t immune-compromised or pregnant. MMR vaccines are free and accessible from GPs, pharmacies and neighborhood well being suppliers. Vaccinators are listed on Ebook My Vaccine.
Measles an infection is frightening, however vaccination could be scary for individuals, too. The World Well being Group recommends listening with empathy and acknowledging how people who find themselves hesitant are feeling.
It additionally suggests asking open-ended questions to assist perceive issues and sharing evidence-based info from trusted sources, together with Well being New Zealand or the Immunization Advisory Heart. It could possibly assist to share your individual motivations for getting vaccinated and what helped you to beat issues.
With a stretched well being system and long-term penalties for people following measles an infection, prevention is crucial.
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NZ could also be on the cusp of one other measles outbreak—what occurred in 2019 must be a warning (2025, October 26)
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