Passengers on a flight from Dunedin to Auckland last week may have been exposed to measles, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service has warned.
Public health medicine specialist Maria Poynter said an Auckland resident flew to Dunedin, but was only infectious on his return flight.
Dr Poynter said passengers on Air New Zealand Flight 674, from Dunedin to Auckland, which left at 2.50pm on July 23, should watch for signs of measles.
She said anyone in the domestic terminals in Dunedin or Auckland around the time of the flight, should also be on the lookout for symptoms, which include a high fever, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes.
Dr Poynter said people who were not immune might start experiencing symptoms over the next week.
''If you were on the flight and are unsure whether you're immune to measles, talk to your doctor or call Healthline on 0800611-116 for advice,'' she said.
''Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease that spreads easily through the air via coughing and sneezing.''
She said people over 50 were considered immune because the virus circulated widely when they were children.
There were 298 measles cases in Auckland, and Dr Poynter said the most effective way to bring the outbreak to an end was to have as many people as possible, aged between 12 months and 50 years, receive at least one measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
''In particular, older teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s need to check that they have had an MMR, because we know that vaccination rates were not as high when these people were younger.''
One dose would prevent measles in 95% of people, while having two doses would protect 99% of people who had the vaccine, she said.
