Aotearoa / New Zealand

Measles cases have been breaking out around Aotearoa in recent months, with Health NZ's public health medicine specialist Dr Sharon Sime warning there may be undetected cases circulating not linked to overseas travel.

Measles is highly contagious - up to 90 percent of non-immune people (those who have not been vaccinated or have not already had it) will be infected if they are exposed to the virus.

The measles vaccine is free, delivered as part of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella).

About 80 percent of New Zealanders are immune - well below the 95 percent coverage needed to prevent an outbreak - and it is lower still for young children, who are among those most at risk of serious complications.