New Zealand has issued a caution to Tonga following the confirmation of three new measles cases last week in Aotearoa, bringing the total number of cases to eight, Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, has confirmed.
The warning comes amid concerns over the potential spread of the highly contagious disease through international travel.
The new cases in New Zealand include one in the Manawatū region and two in the Wairarapa, all linked to earlier cases in the Wairarapa cluster, before quarantine.
All individuals were placed in quarantine as recommended, but one case was found to have been briefly infectious before isolation began.
“Although the case followed all public health advice, they developed symptoms sooner than expected,” said Dr Craig Thornley, Medical Officer of Health for New Zealand’s National Public Health Service.
“We’ve taken a cautious approach by reviewing locations they may have visited prior to quarantine”
Six new locations of interest in Feilding have been identified, including supermarkets and retail stores visited on July 11
The public is advised to monitor for symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore eyes, and rash.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has emphasised the importance of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination, especially for those planning overseas travel or returning from high-risk countries. Immunisation rates in New Zealand remain below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks
High Vaccination Saves Tonga
Tonga, which experienced a measles outbreak in 2019, has maintained high vaccination coverage and is expected to respond proactively to the advisory.
The Ministry of Health in Tonga is monitoring the situation closely and encouraging citizens to ensure their immunisations are up to date.
Dr ‘Akau’ola said the latest measles outbreak in Tonga was caused by a case originating from New Zealand.
She noted that while many children died from measles transmission in Samoa, Tonga was spared due to the kingdom’s 99 per cent measles vaccination coverage.
Health authorities in both countries continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to stay informed and vaccinated.
Dengue Cases Declining in Tonga
In an update on Tonga’s dengue outbreak, Dr. ‘Akau’ola said dengue cases have been declining significantly in recent weeks.
She attributed the reduction to improved training, noting that previous practices often involved adding water to areas that created breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread the disease.
She also suggested that another factor in the decrease may be a reduction in the number of vulnerable individuals.
Dr ‘Akau’ola confirmed that more than 800 patients have suffered from dengue this year.
