New Zealand quarantines dozens of people with measles infection

By Anadolu staff

New Zealand has quarantined dozens of people with measles infection to contain the risk of virus spreading, state-run media reported on Friday.

Health authorities on May 11, announced that they had identified a measles case in Auckland, linked to an overseas travel, according to Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

So far, authorities reached 286 close contacts of the patient, and 78 people are in quarantine as a precautionary measure.

Measles is highly contagious and up to 90% of non-immune people will be infected if they are exposed to the virus, however, 80% of New Zealanders are immune, according to RNZ.

The national clinical director of protection at the National Public Health Service, Dr Susan Jack, said that the infected person could infect 12 to 18 people in average.

"The vaccine is 99 percent effective after two doses and for most people there's no risk in having an extra dose if it's needed," Jack said.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid