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The Conversation
Anna Howe, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, University of Canterbury

NZ may be on the cusp of another measles outbreak – what happened in 2019 should be a warning

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The recent confirmation of new measles cases unconnected to international travel suggests the highly contagious disease has likely started spreading through communities, according to Health New Zealand.

This is a stark reminder of the pending danger of a larger measles outbreak. To prevent transmission once the measles virus has been introduced, a population immunity of around 95%, evenly distributed throughout communities, is necessary.

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