Not enough New Zealanders are immunised against measles which means there is a very high risk of an outbreak.

The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – free for all young people aged 18 and under in New Zealand and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free New Zealand healthcare.  

The first symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore red eyes, followed by a red or dark pink rash typically starting on the face or behind the ears three days after the first symptoms before moving down the body. If you observe these symptoms, encourage parents and/or caregivers to contact their healthcare provider or Healthline on 0800 611 116 immediately.  

Please keep an eye on your child for any of these symptoms and keep them at home if you suspect they have measles. If you know your child has measles, please notify the school immediately.