Measles

Nearly 40 people in Auckland have recently been diagnosed with the infectious measles disease.

Westlake Boys High School on Aucklands North Shore is one of the hardest hit communities with 20 ill students.

Several other Westlake Boys High pupils who have not been immunised against measles have been asked to stay away for the next two weeks.

Measles is a very serious disease that is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The symptoms include fever, a cough, sore eyes and a rash. There is no treatment, and complications can be severe.

The Auckland Health Service has estimated that around 750 people are at immediate risk of catching the highly contagious disease.

Dr. Julia Peters said the Health Service had been working with the North Shore school for just over a week when the first case of measles was found there.

"This is definitely more than what we'd normally see. We're working hard to contain the measles within the Auckland region."

Dr. Peters said many people who had come down with the disease had recently been overseas and, in particular, in the Philippines.

The public health service has sent information to parents and students at Westlake Boys High and asked that those students who are not sure whether they have been immunised against measles to stay away.

"What we're trying to do is isolate those students as well as those who have measles, because students who are not immunised can get sick," she said.

Another seven cases of measles in Auckland are being investigated - three of them from the same school.

What to watch for Symptoms

* High fever.

* Runny nose, cough, red eyes.

* Small white spots inside mouth.

* Red, blotchy rash on face and neck and later over entire body.

WALT: Analysing an article

Task: Answer questions based on a Newspaper Article.

Success Criteria:

• Show critical thinking in your answers.
• Answer questions in full sentences.
• Use correct spelling and punctuation.

1) How do people contract measles? if other people have it and some one comes and gets to close so they get the measles.

2) Why do you think so many students at Westlake High School have contracted measles? because some one has came from a different country and had the measles and then other people got the measles

3) What is the Auckland Health Services main role in this measles outbreak? to help give out the medicine?

4) In the article Dr. Peters said “many people who had come down with the disease had recently been overseas and, in particular, in the Philippines.” Why do you think this is? people have come over to NZ.

5) In your opinion what would be the best way to avoid getting measles? if you know some one has the measles stay away from them.

Use the following criteria to assess yourself and your peer

• Show critical thinking in your answers.
• Answer questions in full sentences.
• Use correct spelling and punctuation.

Self Assessment:

Peer Assessment: