As you are no doubt aware, there have now been several confirmed measles cases in Hamilton & this is expected to take a sharp increase in the coming weeks.

Please be aware of the early symptoms and keep your child home if they are unwell.

Early Symptoms:

• A fever
• A cough
• A runny nose
• Sore and watery ‘pink’ eyes
• Sometimes small white spots on the back inner cheek of your mouth.

Day 3–7 of illness:

A blotchy rash which tends to start on the face, behind the ears, before moving over the head and down the body. 

If you are concerned that your child is experiencing measles symptoms, please phone your GP or Healthline (0800 611-116) before going to the GP clinic.  Measles is incredibly contagious and can easily be passed on to others in a waiting room.

What will happen if someone in our school community is infected?

If one of our students or staff contracts measles, the following will happen:

• The  infected person will be excluded from school while contagious (approximately 5 days after all symptoms and rashes have cleared)
• We will confirm with our school parents that there has been a confirmed case of measles via email and our school app
• We will be instructed by the Waikato DHB to exclude (send home) all students who are not immunised or who we cannot prove have received two doses of the MMR vaccine.  
• The stand-down period for these students is approximately 14 days to ensure they experience no measles symptoms

We have been in contact via email twice with the parents of students who we do not hold immunisation records for.  Thank you to those who have since provided updated records.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Useful Links:
Waikato DHB Newsroom - Measles updates
Ministry of Health - Measles symptoms & prevention
2019 Outbreak Information
Immunisation Advice