The measles outbreak in the Waikato has now spread to the South Island after a teenager, who recently visited Hamilton, contracted the disease.
Measles is spreading to such an extent throughout the Waikato that Morrinsville College is closed today barring students and staff from returning until they can provide vaccination evidence.
However, medical officer of health Dr Ed Kiddle the Nelson Marlborough Health Public Health Service had been following up people who had been in contact with the teenager to advise of any risk of measles to them.
"Given the outbreak in Hamilton and the confirmation of a case of measles down here, people need to ensure they are protected through vaccination," Dr Kiddle says.
To help minimise its spread he urged people to be up-to-date with the measles mumps rubella [MMR] vaccination and be alert to early symptoms, which include a fever which usually starts with a cough or runny nose and possibly sore, red eyes.
Morrinsville College was notified on Friday by the Waikato medical officer of health that one of its 736 students had contracted measles. The school was now legally obliged to follow his instructions in an attempt to stop the contagious disease spreading.
In a letter to parents and staff, acting principal Scott Jenkins announced the school would be closed today and would reopen on Tuesday to those who can provide written evidence they have received two MMR or measles vaccinations. All sporting fixtures this weekend were also cancelled.
Any students or teachers that had not received two vaccinations must stay home for a minimum of 14 days from their last known contact with the affected student.
Teachers born before 1969 were considered to have a natural immunity and could return to work immediately.
Mr Jenkins said the medical officer's instructions would cause "significant disruption to learning, sporting fixtures and would inconvenience many parents". He apologised but said the school had "absolutely no say in this matter".
The medical officer gave the school permission to stay open the remainder of Friday as students would not yet be in the contagious phase if they had contracted it.
MMR and measles records could be found in the person's Well Child Health book or provided by the person's GP.
Late last month, Waikato Hospital revealed a staff member had worked with patients while not knowing that they had measles. The staff member was infectious at the time, but hadn't developed any measles-like symptoms. The area's district health board contacted all patients who had interactions with the staff member.
The Waikato District Health Board Population Health Service says that so far there were 22 confirmed cases of measles in Waikato and 12 are being investigated.
