A person travelling from New Zealand has been put under quarantine in the Cook Islands after being identified as a close contact of a measles case here.

The passenger arrived in the island nation on Saturday local time (Sunday NZT), on a flight from New Zealand. It is not known whether or not they flew overseas knowing they were a close contact.

The Cook Islands’ Ministry of Health – known as Te Marae Ora – has issued a travel advisory as a result of the traveller’s arrival on its shores.

“As a precaution, the close contact is currently in quarantine on Rarotonga and will be monitored by Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health on a daily basis.”

Health authorities are also working closely with the owners of the accommodation facility that the passenger is staying at.

“TMO [is] in constant communication with New Zealand’s Ministry of Health for technical advice.”

The passenger travelled to the Cook Islands over the weekend and is now in quarantine in Rarotonga.

Cook Islands’ health authorities are now working on a targeted measles vaccination roll-out for its community – the details for which will be announced shortly, it said on its official social media page.

It comes as New Zealand’s health authorities continue work to stamp out a measles outbreak here.

How do you know you are a close contact?

Anyone who has been at a location of interest on the same day and time as a measles-infected person is considered by NZ public health as a close contact of a person who has measles.

They are told to call Healthline urgently on: 0800 611 116

“Due to your level of exposure with the virus, you are at an increased risk of becoming infected. You should follow the advice for close contacts urgently,” Te Whatu Ora Health NZ says.

“Close contacts who are not immune to measles will be recommended to quarantine. This means staying at home (not going to work, school or public places).”

The latest measles update from Te Whatu Ora, released on Friday, confirmed two new cases of measles – taking the number of known measles cases to 21, of whom 18 are no longer infectious.

Of the 21 cases, a total of seven are from Auckland – the most number of measles cases around the country.

The two new cases are linked to an existing measles case in Nelson.

Auckland locations of interest

The Stampede Restaurant and Bar in Papakura, South Auckland, is among the new locations of interest linked to a measles case. Image / Google

However, new locations of interest – places where a measles-infected person visited – include those in Nelson, Auckland and Waikato.

“[We] encourage anyone who has been at the locations below to check the page and follow the instructions listed if they are a close or casual contact – and to monitor for symptoms of measles.”

The new Auckland locations of interest, listed below, include a popular restaurant and bar.

Anyone who was at these locations during the times listed is considered a casual contact and should monitor for any measles symptoms until next week.

• BP Connect Māngere: (Sat, Nov 15), 5.30pm-6.50pm.
• Airport Takeaways, 741 Massey Rd, Māngere: (Sat, Nov 15), 6pm-7.15pm.
• Stampede Restaurant and Bar, Papakura: (Sun, Nov 16), 4.45pm-8.45pm
• Unichem Clevedon Road Pharmacy: (Mon, Nov 17), 2.45pm-4pm.

Meanwhile, Samoa is also working hard to keep measles out of the country, as memories of the deadly measles epidemic of 2019 remain.

Authorities there issued a travel advisory informing all travellers – including infants aged 12 months and above – are strongly advised to have received at least one dose of a measles-containing vaccine two weeks before or no later than 14 days prior to arrival in Samoa.

Babies under the age of 12 months and pregnant women are exempt.

Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.