Public urged to get vaccines for personal, community protection
Woolworths New Zealand has sent home 22 employees from its Kelston outlet after they became close contacts of a shopper infected with measles, according to reports.
Health NZ confirmed on Monday that the infected shopper, who recently travelled to Asia, visited Woolworths Kelston on May 3 between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
"All people are close contacts," read Health NZ's advice.
A spokesperson from the supermarket chain told The New Zealand Herald that they were notified by Health NZ about the close contacts on Sunday.
"We are following the advice of Health New Zealand and our team members have been sent home as needed," the spokesperson told the news outlet.
Narinder Singh, manager of Woolworths Kelston, added that the affected employees were briefed on Monday with advice from Health NZ.
Measles is a highly infectious illness characterised by fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes, as well as a rash beginning on the face and spreading down the body.
"Measles is a serious and highly infectious illness, which can affect adults as well as children and babies," said Susan Jack, Protection Clinical Director at the Health NZ National Public Health Service, in a statement. "The MMR vaccine is the only thing that prevents measles."
Fullers360, a ferry and tourism firm in New Zealand, confirmed to the Herald that the case involved a marine crew member.
According to Health NZ, the infected individual who visited Woolworths Kelston had recently travelled to Asia, where they may have contracted the virus. While they were not infectious while travelling home, they visited a number of public locations in Auckland when they were infectious.
Jack reminded the public to get vaccinated against measles or get immunised again if they're unsure about the doses of the MMR vaccine they previously received.
"Being immunised not only protects you, but also those around you from becoming seriously ill and from spreading the disease to others, including friends, loved ones, and people in your community," Jack said.
