A group of University of Otago students have been warned they may have been exposed to measles, the first Wellington victim of a North Island outbreak having visited Dunedin last weekend.
About 30 students on the same floor of Cumberland College where the person stayed had been advised, Otago and Southland Medical Officer of Health Dr John Holmes said.
The person returned to Wellington on Monday morning , and was diagnosed on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the patient was in a stable condition in isolation in Wellington Regional Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Radio New Zealand reported the student had been on a flight from Auckland, where there has been a measles outbreak.
Dr Holmes said while the risk to the students was low, they should check their vaccination status with parents or a doctor.
"If the students have not had two doses of measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine, or they are unsure whether they have been vaccinated, they are strongly advised to receive a dose of vaccine to protect against possible future infection. This vaccination will be provided free from the Student Health Service."
None of the students had complained of symptoms.
"We are taking sensible precautionary measures to prevent any spread at this stage, although we believe the risk of exposure will be relatively low, and no-one has been isolated.
"However, we will inform both the students and the public when and if that situation changes. We are looking at a highly immunised group of students within Cumberland and consider the likely spread may be localised to one floor."
Those with measles symptoms should stay home and call their GP, who would arrange to see them to avoid exposing other patients.
"For the wider student and Dunedin community, this is a timely reminder for all people to think about their immunity status, and double check with a family doctor if unsure."
Measles symptoms
• Fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, inflamed red eyes.
• Between the third and seventh day a red blotchy rash appears.
