Otago schools are being warned to prepare for a possible measles outbreak.
The Southern District Health Board has informed Otago schools a measles outbreak is affecting communities in the North Island, and parents have been told to check their children's vaccination status.
Parents have been asked to let schools know if their child has not had the appropriate vaccinations.
The SDHB has told schools to consider sending unvaccinated pupils home if a child becomes sick with measles.
The messages in school newsletters say: "Two MMR vaccinations provide the best protection for measles, and the vaccine is normally given to children when they are 15 months old and 4 years old.
"The MMR vaccine was not on the childhood immunisation schedule until 1990. That means many adults and parents may not have received the required two doses of MMR, and are encouraged to contact their practice nurse to discuss catch-up MMR.''
Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid said the potential for disruption from a measles outbreak was significant.
"There is a potential for it to come down here, particularly during the school holidays, when a lot of people come down from the North Island for the skiing.
"The last time there was an outbreak in Auckland, we got through the same school holidays without any spread to the South, but I don't think that's a reason to be complacent.
"We are fortunate that the current outbreak seems to be very much on the wane.''
Dr Reid said there had been three confirmed cases in Nelson, and some suspected cases in Canterbury which turned out not to be measles, and no cases in Otago yet.
Concerns were raised last week at an SDHB meeting over vaccination rates in the South.
In children aged 2, vaccination coverage was 93% with a 5.4% decline rate.
"Decline rate this high is concerning due to lack of herd immunity.
"Resource will be put into follow-up [of] first declines to minimise this risk,'' a report to the hospital advisory committee said.
DHB deputy commissioner Richard Thomson asked for more information about what staff were doing to improve the situation. He asked if health staff targeted the group which declined vaccination to find out why they were making that decision.
Measles
• Highly contagious; affects children and adults.
• After two doses of MMR vaccine, more than 95% of people are protected from measles.
• In New Zealand, if you were born in 1969 or later, you can get measles vaccine free.
• Vaccination is particularly important if you are planning to travel overseas, to protect yourself and help prevent outbreaks in New Zealand.
