Wellington, February 24 – Two new measles cases, linked to overseas travel and originating from the same household, have been detected in Auckland, three weeks after New Zealand declared an earlier outbreak over.
The locations of interest include Singapore Airlines flight SQ281, which arrived in Auckland on February 17, Auckland International Airport, and the emergency department waiting room of Waitakere Hospital, Health New Zealand said in a statement on Tuesday.
Public health officials are tracing contacts, particularly passengers seated near the cases on the flight, and are urging anyone with measles-like symptoms to contact healthcare providers before visiting in person.
New Zealand's previous measles outbreak, which began in September 2025, was declared over earlier this month, but health officials caution that the country remains at risk due to low immunization rates and international travel, Xinhua news agency reported.
Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases, spread through contact with infected nasal or throat secretions (coughing or sneezing) or by breathing in the air that someone with measles has breathed. The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. This makes it very infectious. One person infected with measles can generate up to 18 secondary infections.
Measles can affect anyone, but it is most common in children.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to others. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.
An estimated 107,500 people died from measles in 2023 – mostly children under the age of five years, despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine.
Symptoms of measles usually begin 10–14 days after exposure to the virus. A prominent rash is the most visible symptom.
Early symptoms usually last 4–7 days. They include: runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks.
The rash usually begins about 7–18 days after exposure, usually on the face and upper neck. It spreads over about 3 days, eventually to the hands and feet. It usually lasts 5–6 days before fading.