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Measles - update and resources

Measles is a highly infectious disease that is easily spread from an infected person by saliva or mucous droplets when coughing, sneezing or talking. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can lead to infection for those who are not immunised.

Reviewed: 17.02.26

Measles is a highly infectious disease that is easily spread from an infected person by saliva or mucous droplets when coughing, sneezing or talking. Just being in the same room as someone with measles can lead to infection for those who are not immunised.

Key resources

For the latest Te Whatu Ora updates that have been shared with us, see the Pin Points section of our website using the search word 'measles'.

Stay vigilant

Please maintain clinical vigilance for potential measles. Isolate on suspicion and notify your local public health service immediately. 

Please prioritise MMR vaccination activity in practices (recall and opportunistic). Māori and Pacific infants are highest priority populations. 

If measles is suspected

  • Please notify the Medical Officer of Health as soon as you suspect measles – do not wait for a laboratory confirmation.
  • Arrange nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal sampling, using viral swab, for measles PCR. Include clinical details and symptom onset. Contact local laboratory if further information on testing is required.
  • Isolate patient immediately and maintain IPC measures.
  • Primary care is encouraged to find out if their staff are immune to measles. If there is measles exposure on-site, immunisation records may be requested.

Notify all suspected cases of measles to your local Medical Officer of Health

As measles is highly infectious, an urgent public health response is required to control any potential outbreak. Clinicians are reminded to notify all suspected measles cases immediately to the local Medical Officer of Health. 

Do not wait for laboratory confirmation before notifying.  

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