New measles exposure sites identified, including Auckland bars

Several new locations of interest in the spread of measles have been identified - including two central Auckland bars - and anybody who may have been exposed is asked to urgently contact Healthline.

There were no new cases of measles reported over the weekend, but Health New Zealand is concerned about several new locations, where people are considered close contacts and are at higher risk of infection.

The new locations include two bars on Karangahape Road in central Auckland and several Queenstown retail outlets:

• BP Connect Richmond, Queen Street, Nelson: 16 November, 1.15-2.15pm
• Eagle Bar, Karangahape Road, Auckland: 29 November, Midnight-2.30am
• G.A.Y Club, Karangahape Road, Auckland:  29 November, 1.15-2.45am
• Eagle Bar, Karangahape Road, Auckland: 30 November, 1.45-3.55am
• G.A.Y Club, Karangahape Road, Auckland: 30 November, 2.45-4.25am
• Hikari Teppanyaki, Grant Road, Frankton: 1 December, 6-8.45pm
• Dunedin Public Hospital, Emergency Department: 2 December, 1-2.30pm
• OPSM, Grant Road, Frankton: 2 December, 2.10-3.40pm
• Chemist Warehouse, Queenstown: 2 December, 7.50-9pm
• Carters, Glenda Drive, Queenstown: 2 December, 2.45-4.15pm
• The Ballarat, Queenstown: 2 December, 8.05-10.30pm

Health NZ said anybody who was at those locations on the days and times listed must call Healthline urgently on 0800 611 116.

"You could be at risk of developing measles and spreading it to others.

"Attendees at those locations or events that occurred on or before 30 November could be at risk of spreading measles to others from today, so these people also need to stay at home and avoid seeing others, until they've phoned Healthline and received advice."

Thirty cases of measles have now been reported in New Zealand in recent weeks, including 11 in Auckland and eight in Wellington.

Vigilance encouraged ahead of the holiday season

Health NZ said with retailers, events, travel providers and airports all identified as recent locations where people could have been exposed to measles, it continued to urge everyone - especially people travelling or attending busy public places or large events - to protect themselves and others as we head into the busy holiday season.

It encouraged anyone with overseas travel plans over the holiday period to check their immunisation status and to catch up on any missed MMR vaccination as soon as possible before leaving New Zealand. 

"Measles can have a long incubation period and is highly contagious, so anyone planning to travel, either internationally or within New Zealand, is strongly encouraged to check their immunisation status and get vaccinated if needed."

Public health specialist Dr Matt Reid said, in the 50 days since 18 October - the first case of this outbreak - 60,808 MMR doses had been delivered, compared to 22,000 in the 50 days before the outbreak.

"Immunisation is the best protection against measles," Dr Reid said.

"The more people who are immune to measles, the better, as high community immunisation coverage protects those people in our whānau who can't be immunised - babies under 12 months of age, people who are pregnant or people who are immunocompromised."

-By RNZ