Monday Pānui 12 May 2025

In today’s Pānui	Measles Case in Auckland 12th May 2025 Updating Medtech (if not on the Cloud)
Measles Case in Auckland 12th May 2025	An adult in Auckland has been confirmed with measles with the infectious period starting after returning from overseas travel. Check locations of interest: https://info.health.nz/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand. Have a high index of suspicion for measles in anyone presenting with measles-like symptoms including following overseas travel. Aotearoa New Zealand remains at very high risk of a large measles outbreak, due to a low population immunity level and large ongoing outbreaks occurring overseas, particularly in Vietnam, Thailand, and the wider South-East Asia region, which may impact travellers on all international routes. A Priority for Primary Care, is to focus on MMR vaccination in children aged younger than 2 years, and those planning travel overseas. Pēpi (babies) between the ages of 4 and 12 months should be considered for an additional dose of the MMR vaccine early (MMR0) before overseas travel. To minimise the risk of transmission, there is an importance of maintaining strict Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in all practice settings. Please ensure the following: Triage Protocols: Actively screen patients with transmissible/respiratory diseases via telephone triage and/or at the point of entry. Pay particular attention to those who have recently returned from overseas, as measles exposure risk is higher in some regions. Stream infectious patients and isolate possible cases in “red streamed areas” for example separate isolation rooms or carpark. Masking and PPE: It is recommended and encouraged for all practice staff and patients/visitors to the practice to wear masks, due to undifferentiated communicable disease currently in the community. Please ensure that masks are readily available for both staff and patients/visitors. Confirm that all staff have access to the correct PPE and are reminded of its proper use when managing suspected measles cases or other infectious diseases. Cough Etiquette & Hand Hygiene: Reinforce the importance of proper cough etiquette – covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows. Ensure hand sanitiser stations are accessible and stocked, and that staff and patients are reminded to sanitise hands frequently. Notifiable Immediately all Suspected cases to Public Health: A single case of measles is defined as an urgent public health event, requiring an immediate public health response. If the diagnosis of measles is suspected, notify the Medical Officer of Health and perform diagnostic testing. During business hours (8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday), notify via: completing the eReferral measles notification form, or phone (09) 623‑4600. Outside business hours, phone (09) 623‑4600 and ask to speak to the on-call Medical Officer of Health, in addition to the above, and test for case confirmation (see below). PCR Swabbing/Testing: Verify that your practice has the necessary PCR swabbing supplies for measles testing, and that staff are aware of the testing protocol. Perform diagnostic testing (PCR) in general practice (do not send the patient to the community laboratory).  Ensure specimens are correctly labelled and promptly dispatched to the laboratory for accurate and timely diagnosis. Staff Vaccinations: Review staff vaccination records to confirm that all staff members, especially those in direct patient contact, are up to date with MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccinations. If any staff members are unsure of their vaccination status, advise them to contact their GP or occupational health provider to confirm immunity or arrange for vaccination. HealthPathways: HealthPathways provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on measles management, diagnosis, and reporting procedures. Please refer to the relevant sections for guidelines on assessing, managing, and reporting suspected cases of measles; Auckland HealthPathways - Measles Maintaining vigilance during this time is essential to preventing the spread of measles and other communicable diseases. If you require further guidance on IPC measures, staff and patient vaccination protocols, or have any concerns regarding PPE or PCR testing supplies, please contact: Aaron Piano – aaron@aucklandpho.co.nz (Clinical Advisor; IPC, Vaccinator and Cold Chain Assessor) and Shanaz Khan – shanaz@aucklandpho.co.nz (Immunisation Services Coordinator). We will provide further updates as they become available to us. Please also see: New measles case in Auckland with exposure on Fullers360 ferries and supermarket – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Updating Medtech (if not on the Cloud)	A reminder to Medtech practices who are not on the cloud – please update as this update has Immunisation fixes which will assist with immunisation target achievement.

Barbara Stevens | Tumu Whakarae/CEO