The number of measles cases has been on the rise in the Counties Manukau district during the past few weeks. Officials are urging residents to take health warnings seriously and get their children immunised.

A measles outbreak that hit the west and central Auckland areas in the middle of 2011 has slowly shifted to the Counties Manukau area, with more cases being reported over the past two months.

Measles is a highly infectious illness that is spread by droplets in the air. It can strike adults and children, but young children are more vulnerable to the disease. Health professionals advise that everyone born after 1 January 1969 should be immunised with the MMR vaccine for protection.

Symptoms of the illness can include fever, runny nose, sore red eyes and white spots in the mouth. Three to five days after measles is contracted, a rash will appear on the face, spreading down the body.

For more information, see: http://www.health.govt.nz/yourhealth-topics/diseases-and-illnesses/measles