The Toi Te Ora Health Authorities have warned against a measles outbreak through the Bay of Plenty, and have confirmed around 10 cases of measles in Bay of Plenty and Lakes region and a total of 400 cases across the nation since October. Tauranga and Rotorua have topped the list for reflecting maximum number of cases.

In order to curb the spread of the disease, the health authorities are struggling to follow up suspected people who are believed to have close contact with measles cases. In addition, every individual who is not immunized against the disease is advised to stay at home for at least 14 days.

“Because of the current outbreak of measles, babies from 12 months of age can go to their family doctor or practice nurse for their first dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine”, said Dr. Neil de Wet, the Public Health Medical Officer of Health, while emphasizing on the need of on-time vaccination in order to keep the unwanted health condition at bay.

In addition, the officer has urged natives to vaccinate their children and notified that in case a baby has received vaccination at the age of 12 months, the kid is supposed to have the second dosage of MMR after 28 days. The same time interval is also applicable to older children adults as well as youngsters.

Measles is highly infectious disease that tends to communicate rapidly with very common health complications. A runny nose, fever, coughs and sore eyes are a few of the alarming initial symptoms of the disease that are followed by an array of severe problems, including a red, blotchy rash that usually appears on face for the first time and then increases its spell to the rest of the body parts.