4 Oct 2011

'No sign' of Auckland measles outbreak abating

5:03 pm on 4 October 2011

There is no sign that the measles outbreak in Auckland is being brought under control.

The latest weekly update from regional health authorities shows 24 new cases in the past week, compared with 11 new cases a fortnight ago.

Some 203 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak began at the end of May this year.

Authorities say three people were in hospital over the weekend and 31 have needed hospital care since the latest outbreak began.

A Wellington student diagnosed with measles has been discharged from hospital, but it is not clear yet whether the student infected others in Dunedin during a visit there.

Auckland's medical officer of health Richard Hoskins says there is no sign of the outbreak is abating.

Dr Hoskins says it is affecting babies to people in their 60s, but mainly those under age of four and those in their 20s and 30s.

Ministry of Health deputy director Darren Hunt says there is no sign yet of any significant wider spread of measles throughout the country.