New Zealand has won eliminating endemic measles and rubella for the first time. No cases have originated in New Zealand for the last three years, with the World Health Organization confirming elimination of the dangerous childhood diseases in the country.
However people who have caught measles or rubella overseas “regularly bring them in on their arrival here,” said NZ director of public health, Caroline McElnay.
“We must remain vigilant and improve our vaccination rates because these diseases can easily spread among unimmunised people from imported cases,” she said.
Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Monday 9 October 2017