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Canterbury health authorities 'intensify' battle against measles as cases expected to rise

March 12, 2019

Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink warns one measles case can infect up to 13 people. (Source: Other)

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink is warning New Zealanders about the highly infectious measles disease as the number of cases continue to rise.

Currently there are 25 confirmed cases, and 100,000 vaccines are expected to hit Canterbury shortly. 

Read more:  As measles cases in Canterbury rise authorities urge residents to exercise vigilance

The first 9000 will arrive tomorrow.

The demand for vaccines have been high and work towards the prevention of measles has been "intensified".

Dr Pink has urged those who feel they will be most vulnerable to the disease to get vaccinated as one case of the measles is capable of infecting 13 people.

Those aged five to 28 make up the majority of the cases.

More potential cases are currently being investigated.

"Those who haven’t had a vaccine will be prioritised," Dr Pink told TVNZ1's Breakfast.

Under the previous National-led Government, there was a target of a 95 per cent immunisation rate, which has been scrapped by Health Minister David Clark.

Read more:  More measles outbreaks predicted as 'anti-science' material online feared a factor in disease's rise

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told TVNZ1's Breakfast, "we haven't set official targets as yet for health."

"We need to make sure that when we set a target that it has a genuine outcome."

Since taking office, Ms Ardern says there hasn't been a shortage of things to focus on when it comes to health.

"The last Government wanted children immunised, we do too, there is absolutely no change." 

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