The recent outbreak of measles is continuing with an increase of cases in Auckland. The Ministry of Health recommends that people born between 1969 and 1990 have an MMR booster as they probably only received one MMR vaccination instead of two when they were children. Measles symptoms include a respiratory-type of illness with dry cough, runny nose and headache. Temperatures can be over 38.5C and people feel very unwell. A red blotchy rash starts on day four to five, usually on the face before moving to the chest and arms. The time between exposure and the first symptoms is about 10 days. People are considered infectious from about five days before to five days after rash onset.
