Toi Te Ora Public Health has identified four cases of measles occurring over the last three weeks that have been linked to the Mount Maunganui area of the Bay of Plenty.

Immunisation is the best protection from measles, says Medical Officer of Health Dr Jim MIller.

The vaccine that protects against measles is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

'It's important that parents ensure that their children receive their free routine MMR immunisations on time at 15 months and four years of age,” says Dr Jim Miller, Medical Officer of Health for Toi Te Ora Public Health.

If you have never had a dose of MMR vaccine now is the time to get one. MMR vaccine is highly effective.

After one dose of MMR vaccine about 95 per cent of people are protected from measles, and 99 per cent of people who have had both doses are protected from measles.

People born before 1 January 1969 are likely to be immune because measles used to be quite common and so this older age group does not need measles immunisation.

'If you think you or someone in your family may have measles, stay at home and phone your doctor to alert them of your symptoms and allow them to make arrangements to assess you safely and without infecting other people, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.”

For more information:

• Toi Te Ora Public Health website: www.toiteora.govt.nz/measles
• Immunisation Advisory Centre free phone: 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863)
• Immunisation Advisory Centre website: www.immune.org.nz
• Ministry of Health website: www.health.govt.nz/measles
• Don't Assume You're Immune website: www.getimmunised.org.nz