Measles Response Update: Transitioning to Post-Outbreak Phase

Kia ora e te whānau,

We want to firstly acknowledge and thank all our practices, PHN partners, and kaimahi across the motu for your swift and coordinated mahi throughout the measles response. Your vigilance and commitment to protecting whānau made it possible to contain the outbreak and strengthen immunisation coverage. Te Whatu Ora has also expressed its deep gratitude for the collective effort that has kept our communities safe.

We’ve received confirmation from National Public Health Services that the Public Health Incident Management Team (IMT) has now been stood down. As a result, we are transitioning into the post-outbreak phase. While the immediate response has concluded, continued vigilance and preparedness remain essential.

NHC will remain actively involved and continue to support the Te Tai Tokerau region until all quarantine cases are cleared and throughout the post-outbreak period.

As of 14/10/25:

Two additional measles cases have been confirmed in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland, bringing the national total to 12. Both were in quarantine as identified contacts, and no further exposure events have been recorded.

• An update has been made to the measles chapter of the Health New Zealand Communicable Disease Control (CD) Manual. A full summary of the updates can be found here.

• Te Reo Māori information sheets are now available as part of the HealthEd measles collection, supporting culturally responsive engagement and whānau education.

We will continue to work alongside Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Services, and our PHN partners to ensure clinical and equity responses remain strong and consistent across regions.

Post outbreak steps for practices

To support ongoing readiness, NHC has developed a Practice Preparedness Checklist (attached) to help ensure consistent protocols are maintained. This resource is for your own use, there’s no need to return it to us. It’s designed to help you and your practice stay prepared and confident in your response. These steps will also strengthen readiness for any future outbreaks, ensuring your practice remains prepared and protected.

We encourage all practices to:

• Review and debrief on any operational and clinical lessons learned from the outbreak response, particularly for impacted practices

• Read through and complete the Readiness Checklist

• Continue immunisation promotions and services for tamariki and rangatahi

• Maintain a register of staff measles immune status, updating as new staff members are onboarded

• Keep IPC protocols and triage systems in place, including PPE, isolation procedures, and signage

24 month immunisation priority

As we move into recovery, our collective focus extends beyond the measles outbreak to strengthening routine childhood immunisation ensuring 24 month child vaccinations are up to date. With national coverage still below target, every appointment and engagement is an opportunity to close immunity gaps and protect tamariki. So please:

• Review your 24 month immunisation data and recall tamariki who have missed any scheduled vaccinations

• Engage whānau early through trusted relationships and clear, empathetic kōrero

• Provide flexible access, such as outreach visits, mobile clinics, or after-hours options

• Record all eligible encounters in Mōhio to support reporting and advocacy for continued funding

Taking this proactive approach not only lifts protection for our youngest tamariki but also rebuilds confidence in the wider immunisation programme as part of overall whānau wellbeing.

Whanganui spotlight

We’re proud to acknowledge NHC Whanganui practices, which have achieved the highest 24 month immunisation rates of all PHOs nationwide, this is a huge achievement. Their consistent coordination, proactive whānau outreach, and commitment to data accuracy set a national benchmark for what’s possible when clinical excellence and whānau-centred approaches come together.

This milestone reflects the collective efforts of kaimahi, nurses, and outreach teams who have continued to champion access, trust, and protection for whānau across the region. Ka rawe koutou!

NHC remains available to tautoko you and your teams with:

• Ongoing clinical and operational updates

• Coordination of outreach services and community vaccination opportunities

• Equity advocacy and Te Tiriti aligned provider support

If you need additional support, information, encounter barriers or want us to advocate and champion on your behalf to Te Whatu Ora, please reach out directly to our Director of Nursing, Donna Kielar (donnak@nhc.maori.nz) so we can tautoko as soon as possible.

Resources attached:

• Measles General Practice Readiness checklist

• Whakapapa Measles poster to put around your clinic

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