Transcript
The World Health Organisation's Pacific communicable diseases expert says the region was warned about measles months ago.
Dr Angela Merianos says the WHO and UNICEF sent a letter to all the Ministers of Health in the Pacific in early April detailing both prevention guidelines and proper outbreak response.
“Actually alerting them to the re-emergence of measles globally and in particular the emergence of measles and measles outbreaks in a number of countries of the Western Pacific and South East Asian regions. Given the degree of travel that occurs between these countries and the Pacific.”
Dr Merianos says people going to Auckland must be aware of their immunisation status.
She says people under 50 years old with no medical contraindications to vaccination should get two doses of vaccine well ahead of travel.
“Because every vaccine takes about a week before the immune system can respond to the vaccine and provide protection. So, it is important that people plan ahead and make sure that they're vaccinated before travel.”
In the Cook Islands hospitals are preparing isolation beds and notices are going up at the airport as New Zealand's measles outbreak threatens infants and tourism numbers.
Health Secretary Dr Josephine Herman says extra vaccine supplies have been ordered as authorities bring down the age of immunisation from 15months to 12months.
She says it's possible tourists from New Zealand coming to the Cook Islands may not know they have the illness.
“We are quite concerned now. We have about 21 flights coming in from Auckland every week. And we have quite a solid tourism industry which we would like to protect. But the main concern we have is for our babies that are 12 months or younger.”
Dr Herman says all arriving passengers will be given information at the airport telling them what to do if they become unwell while they are in the Cook Islands.
She estimates vaccination coverage at 90 per cent.
“Our population moves quite frequently between the Cook Islands and New Zealand. About 30 percent of our babies are living in the pa enua, the outer islands, so we are thinking we are sitting at about 90 percent. We are in the process of establishing an electronic register which makes it easier for us to collect this data.”
Dr Herman says they are working hard to prevent Cook Island babies from being exposed to the virus by visitors from New Zealand.
Fiji has issued a public health warnings and travel advisories, offering free MMR vaccinations and asking people to get immunised two weeks before visiting New Zealand if they are not already protected.
The last outbreak in Fiji was in 2006 with no cases since and their Health Ministry is warning people to be alert for fever, coughing, sore eyes and a rash.
The Director General of Health in Samoa is asking anyone with measles symptoms not to fly as numbers surge to over a thousand cases in New Zealand.
Dr Take Naseri held a media conference on Wednesday in Apia to brief Samoans.
Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says the director general confirmed there is no measles in Samoa yet.
“The immunisation programme is now being carried out since April. And so far, Samoa is clear of any outbreak of measles. But the Ministry of Health he said is still on alert. And doing their check up at the airport for passengers coming in and for those who are leaving the country.”
He says there is no panic about measles in Samoa and the public appears to be travelling as normal.
The director general says reluctant parents have had time to discuss their hesitations over immunisation.
But he points out parents who outright refuse to vaccinate, are also quick to seek treatment from the hospital when their children get sick.
Last month the Nurses' Association said Samoa's health system has improved since the deaths of two infants last year caused by human error not vaccines.
Clinicians from New Zealand travelled to Samoa in June, training nurses at hospitals on both Upolu and Savai'i and many children were immunised in a catch up prorgramme.
Dr Merianos says in addition to full immunisation for those under 50 years old, the WHO has protocols on identifying measles, clinical treatment, infection control and isolation.
She says measles is very contagious with each case able to infect up to 12 others with the air borne virus lingering for about an hour in enclosed spaces.
“So we want people to be aware and to ring ahead. And when they are diagnosed with measles, to follow recommendations for their isolation and they should remain isolated for at least five days after the rash appears and they become symptomatic.”
Dr Merianos says it can take about two weeks for people to get sick with measles after first being exposed to the virus.