NZ: Measles alert issued for airline passengers

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/12/17/1245d9dc1482

Measles alert issued for airline passengers

Updated at 12:25pm on 17 December 2009

Health authorities in Canterbury are trying to contact 28 passengers who may have been exposed to measles on an Air NZ flight from Auckland - Christchurch on Monday, 7 December.

Health authorities in Canterbury are trying to contact 28 passengers who may have been exposed to measles on a flight from Auckland to Christchurch last week.

They were seated in rows 13 - 17 on Air New Zealand flight 509, which arrived in Christchurch at 3.45pm on Monday, 7 December.

A child, aged 11 months, who was aboard, is now confirmed as having had measles.

Radio New Zealand's health correspondent says measles is a serious and highly infectious disease.

Canterbury had a major measles outbreak from June to September and authorities are anxious to avoid a repeat.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says the passengers could be infectious for up to three weeks.

For the next 12 days, they should avoid preschools in particular.

Symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose and watery eyes.

Most at risk are people who have not had the MMR vaccine. However, those born before 1969 are likely to be immune.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Measles alert issued for airline passengers

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3170771/84-people-at-risk-after-measles-exposure

84 people at risk after measles exposure

Health authorities are trying to contact 84 people exposed to measles by a baby who flew from London to Christchurch via Auckland.

The baby arrived in Auckland on Air New Zealand flight NZ1 on Monday, December 7, before travelling to Christchurch on flight NZ509.

Auckland and Canterbury health authorities are trying to contact people sitting near the baby on both flights; for the international leg, 56 people sitting in rows 56-60 were at risk while 28 people sitting in rows 13-17 were exposed on the domestic flight.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Brad Novak said it was important people in those rows were alerted to the risk of measles because it was a serious and highly infectious which could spread rapidly in unimmunised groups.

"These passengers, or their family members, who have symptoms suggestive of measles are advised to immediately seek advice from a doctor," Dr Novak said.

"Call ahead to alert your doctor or practice nurse about the possibility of measles as this will allow them to arrange to assess you safely without infecting others. People who suspect they may have measles should avoid contact with young children and pregnant women."

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink said the baby's parents had taken it to their doctor for cold-like symptoms before travelling. They were given antibiotics but measles was not suspected.

"They've done what any other parent would do ? they've sought advice and they've followed that advice," Dr Pink said.

It had not become apparent that the baby had the measles until this week.

Those most at risk of contracting the disease were those who had not had the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine or who had just had one dose of it. Anyone born before 1969 was likely to be immune without having had the vaccine.

Measles was spread by breathing, coughing and sneezing, and could cause a rash, high fever, runny nose and sore, watery eyes. It was occasionally fatal.

The measles incubation period is up to 21 days.

 

[alert]

Re: NZ: Measles alert issued for airline passengers

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,80514

Archive Number 20091217.4267
Published Date 17-DEC-2009
Subject PRO/EDR> Measles - New Zealand (07): in-flight exposure, alert


MEASLES - NEW ZEALAND (07): IN-FLIGHT EXPOSURE, ALERT
*****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 17 Dec 2009
Source: 7News, New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) report [edited]
<http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/6595256/search-for-passengers-exposed-to-measles/>


Search for passengers exposed to measles
----------------------------------------
A hunt is on to find around 30 passengers who may have been exposed to
measles after sitting near a baby with the disease on a recent flight from
Auckland to Christchurch. Canterbury medical officer of health, Dr Ramon
Pink, said the 11 month old was on flight NZ509 on 7 Dec 2009.

"Passengers sitting in rows 13-17 of the Air New Zealand flight which
arrived in Christchurch from Auckland at 3.45pm on Monday (7 Dec 2009) may
have been exposed to the highly infectious disease," Dr Pink said. People
sitting in these rows should contact their doctor or call Community and
Public Health on (03) 364 1777 if they had had symptoms. "Anyone sitting in
these rows is also urged to stay away from pre-schools or other places
where young children gather for the next 12 days." The baby had transferred
to the Christchurch flight after landing in Auckland from London.

Measles was spread by breathing, coughing, and sneezing, and could cause a
rash, high fever, runny nose and sore, watery eyes. Occasionally it can be
fatal. The measles incubation period is up to 21 days, Dr Pink said.

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The risk of transmission of measles from an 11 month old baby to airline
passengers in adjacent seats during a short duration flight within New
Zealand must be low, particularly as most adult passengers will have
immunity to measles virus infection. It will be interesting to learn
whether there is any response to this alert. At greater risk would be
passengers on the intercontinental flight from Europe, who are not being
warned.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of New Zealand is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00c3>. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Measles - New Zealand (06): alert 20090714.2512
Measles - New Zealand (05) 20090712.2498
Measles - New Zealand (04) 20090705.2412
Measles - New Zealand (03) 20090301.0850
Measles - New Zealand (02): in-flight exposure 20090210.0600
Measles - New Zealand: in-flight exposure, alert 20090207.0562
2008
---
Measles - New Zealand: in-flight exposure, alert 20081115.3608
1997
---
Measles - New Zealand 19970725.1574]

.................cp/mj/sh