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18 August 2011 09:40
Tourists have been warned of a measles outbreak in New Zealand
A new measles outbreak in New Zealand has come as a major worry for British backpackers planning to spend their holidays in the island country.
The contagion has already infected more than 120 people in the upper North Island and is spreading to more areas, according to authorities.
Tourists are better advised to grab a comprehensive medical travel insurance deal before heading off to the country.
Auckland, where the outbreak was reported first, has 109 confirmed cases so far, whereas 20 cases have been reported from Waikato. Taupo and Northland are also listed among the affected areas.
Of the 20 instances reported from Waikato, 19 had not been immunised and one had received only one of the recommended two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to Medical Officer of Health Dr Anita Bell.
Dr Bell said: "This is a testament to the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine in protecting people who are fully immunised.
"Immunisation is the only protection from this potentially serious disease. Immunisation protects not only the individual, but also blocks the spread of this disease within our communities.''
Those who have symptoms of measles including fever, cough, blocked nose and sore red eyes have been advised to immediately contact their doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116.
16 August 2018
Holidaymakers in the UK will be hit by more train price hikes from next year, after the Government announced ticket prices will increase by 3.2% in January.
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15 August 2018
A simple blood test could help GPs detect a rare form of bone marrow cancer much earlier, a new study suggests.
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.
01 August 2018
A plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.