08/10/2025
Measles cases are rising globally, with outbreaks in many other parts of the world including:
Australia
South-East Asia
the United States
Canada
the United Kingdom.
This means the risk of measles being brought back into Aotearoa by travellers is very high. Almost all of our previous measles outbreaks have resulted from non-immune travellers bringing the disease back from overseas.
Immunisation is the best protection and will help to prevent the spread of measles in our local communities. If you are travelling and are not fully protected, you are at risk of catching the disease and bringing it back to Aotearoa. You might also pass the infection on to others and make them unwell.
How measles spreads
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses. It spreads very easily from person to person by breathing in air after a person with measles has sneezed, coughed, talked or even just breathed. Measles can also be spread after touching tissues, toys or other surfaces contaminated with an infected person’s nose and throat secretions (snot and saliva).
The measles virus can stay in the air even after the person with measles has left the room or area.
If you are not immune and have had face-to-face contact with someone with measles, or have been in the same room as them, you are very likely to catch it.
Symptoms of measles
The first symptoms of measles are similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, COVID-19 or flu (influenza) which means it can be hard to know you have measles.
Symptoms of measles are:
fever (a temperature of at least 38°C)
cough
runny nose
sore, red eyes
rash.
The rash develops 3 to 5 days after the other symptoms. The rash appears as pink or red spots or bumps which start on the face before moving down the rest of the body. The rash may be more difficult to see on darker skin. The rash is not usually itchy. It can last for a week or more.
A key feature of measles is that a fever is still present when the rash develops.
Measles symptoms usually start within 10 to 14 days after you are first exposed to the virus. They can start anytime between 7 to 21 days.
Complications from measles
Measles is a serious illness that makes most people feel very unwell. It usually takes at least 1 to 2 weeks to recover from measles.
Complications are common, and 1 out of 3 people with measles will be sick enough to need hospital care. Complications include:
ear infections
runny poos (diarrhoea)
lung infections (pneumonia)
swelling of the brain (encephalitis) — this is rare but can cause permanent brain damage or death
After you recover from measles, your immune system is weakened and it can take from a few months to 3 years to fully recover. This means you are more likely to get sick with other infectious illnesses.
Preventing measles
The best protection against measles is the free measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is very effective. After one dose, about 95 percent of people are protected from measles and after two doses 99 percent of people are protected.
The MMR vaccine is free for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand under the age of 18. It does not matter what your immigration status is.
If you are 18 and over, the MMR vaccine is free if you are eligible for funded healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Most people born in Aotearoa before 1969 are immune to measles. This is because before that time almost everyone had measles as a child.
If you were born between 1969 - 2004 need MMR if they do not have a clear record of two doses of measles containing vaccine or confirmed measles. Two doses, at least 4 weeks apart
