measles

 ARPHS Medical Officer of Health Dr Maria Poynter says people who may have been exposed on this flight should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly infectious disease.

 The flight departed Nadi, Fiji on Air New Zealand flight NZ 53 at 2.00 pm on Friday 22 November, landing at 5.10 pm in Auckland on the same day.

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Rachel Eyre said the employer of the worker had acted promptly to notify the district health board’s public health unit.

All close contacts had been identified and were in isolation to avoid any further spread, she said.

Dr Eyre said the worker, from Tonga, had arrived into the country recently and, based on symptoms, did not know they had measles at the time of travel.

Oceania Rugby said the decision was made after the team were forced into quarantine for 18 days – which would run through the tournament.

One of the players who arrived in Fiji was suspected of having measles, and tests were conducted on Sunday.

A senior official at the Fiji health ministry, Aalisha Sahukan, said the risk of infection was deemed too high for the Tongan team to participate.

The decision has forced a new schedule to be drawn up for the rest of the tournament.

A suspected case of measles in the Tonga Women’s 15’s team has forced the cancellation of the game between Tonga and Australia A in the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship in Fiji.

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare Director Daniel Leo said they are disappointed about the cancellation.

“While we were extremely disappointed about the cancellation of the planned matches, as were the players themselves who all put in the hard work preparing for the competition, given the circumstances we are confident this is the correct decision, given the seriousness of the situation.”

On Thursday, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga declared a public heath emergency meaning all travellers from Tonga and Samoa must show proof of MMR vaccination or immunity.

Although two health community centres at Leone and Amouli have been closed due to a nursing shortage, the Tafuna Community Health Center's hours have been extended and a local baby clinic is also administering shots.

The Department of Health's Aifili Dr John Tufa said immunisation was the best protection and was needed to keep the measles at bay.

The closure is to further contain the outbreak of measles, which is more likely to happen when children are gathering together in large numbers, as in schools.

The primary schools will resume from 25 November to enable them to provide students’ academic reports and conduct their prize giving ceremonies.

A statement said the closure date can be extended pending advice from Ministry of Health.

As the Pacific grapples with a deadly measles outbreak originating in New Zealand, some of the region's smallest states are seeing their health systems put under increasing strain before the disease even reaches their shores.

Already, measles has spread to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

Health authorities in Samoa say they have registered seven deaths suspected to have been caused by the measles virus.

Now, there are fears its spread to other countries in the region could be only a matter of time.

Meanwhile, authorities in New Caledonia are on alert after a member of the Tongan futsal team was found to have the highly infectious virus.

Tonga's health ministry says three people have been hospitalised by the outbreak, which was brought into the country by a rugby team who had played at a tournament in Auckland.

The ministry's chief executive, Siale 'Akauola, says the outbreak there appears to have peaked, and they're confident that it can still be managed.

Meanwhile, authorities in New Caledonia are on alert after a member of the Tongan futsal team was found to have the highly infectious virus.

Tonga's health ministry says three people have been hospitalised by the outbreak, which was brought into the country by a rugby team who had played at a tournament in Auckland.

The ministry's chief executive, Siale 'Akauola, says the outbreak there appears to have peaked, and they're confident that it can still be managed.

The associate health minister, Julie Anne Genter, said New Zealand has offered advice and assistance and stands ready to help in any way.

"I understand Samoa is working through its response and authorities have requested that any support from New Zealand, waits until Samoa's needs are more clear," Ms Genter said.

Epidemics were declared in Samoa and Tonga this week, and both were spread from New Zealand, where an outbreak in Auckland has affected nearly 2000 people.