With the measles outbreak in Auckland, residents have been urged to check their insurance for appropriate coverage.
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) warned that the outbreak may spread to other parts of New Zealand as an infected resident was able to fly from Auckland to Napier before they realised they had the illness.
The public health service warned the passengers on flights Air NZ 5025 from Auckland to Napier departing at 6:40am as well as Air NZ 5020 from Napier to Auckland departing at 4:40pm to check their immunity to measles. Travellers would also benefit from having health insurance in place.
“You are most at risk if you’re not immune to measles, either because you haven’t been vaccinated or you haven’t had the disease previously,” Dr Maria Poynter, public health medicine specialist at ARPHS, told NZ Herald.
Meanwhile, a number of cases of measles have also been confirmed at the University of Auckland, with experts blaming low immunisation rates among young adults.
Dr Nikki Turner, associate professor at the University of Auckland, commented that healthcare services need to monitor vaccinations.
“It’s not at the top of people’s mind until they see measles. Healthcare services need to start looking at recalling people without any records,” Turner told Newshub.
