20 Oct 2011

5 confirmed with measles in capital

4:59 pm on 20 October 2011

The number of confirmed measles cases in Wellington over the past four weeks has risen to five.

Regional Public Health says they are all adults who work in the Wellington central business district, with two known to each other.

While infectious last week, the people were at Kafee Eis on Courtenay Place, Wasabi Sushi in Lambton Quay's James Cook Arcade, and the BNZ Building at 60 Waterloo Quay.

Medical Officer of Health Annette Nesdale says anyone who was at those venues should check their immune status and if in doubt contact their doctor.

Primary symptoms are a fever, runny nose and sore red eyes.

As of Wednesday, 48 people had been hospitalised with measles in Auckland, where 248 confirmed or probable cases of the disease have been recorded since late May.