It is only a matter of time before measles arrives in Northland and people should check if they are fully immunised, say health officials.
There are 27 confirmed and 20 suspected cases in the Canterbury outbreak. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and only people who were born before 1969 or have had two MMR vaccinations are considered fully protected.
Those aged between 29 and 50 will have had only one measles vaccination, and are considered under-protected. People first develop a respiratory type illness with dry cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis, a temperature over 38.5C and a rash. People are infectious from five days before until five days after the rash appears.
Burns after gas bottle explosion
An exploding gas bottle inside a vehicle has left a Dargaville man with burns to his face, arms and hands.
The man is in a stable condition in the burns unit at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.
The Northland Rescue helicopter crew flew the man from Dargaville Hospital, where he managed to get to, to Auckland about 11pm on Sunday. It's believed the man may have lit a cigarette while inside the vehicle. He was in a stable condition yesterday. Delays expected due to road works
Traffic delays are expected as work begins on resurfacing a section of Kiripaka Rd in Whangārei begins.
Whangārei Council will be resurfacing Kiripaka Rd from this Saturday. Work starts from the roundabout at Kiripaka/Spedding/Paramount Parade and will continue to just south of Paraunui Valley Rd.
When paving operations start the contractor will be working at night. The contractor will advise all the business and affected parties either in person or letter drops. This work is weather dependant.
Two-way traffic will be retained during the day, apart from a few small sections where stop/go signs will be needed due to the narrowing of the road and the work area required. Night works will primarily be under stop/go traffic control, several detours will be in place using surrounding streets, small delays are likely.
Communications work well, after boy's injury
All systems were working well at the Ngai Takoto Snapper Bonanza when a young child had an accident on Wednesday morning. The 2-year-old boy was with his parents near Maunganui Bluff when he slipped and fell, breaking his arm, said Kaitaia Senior Station Officer Colin Kitchen.
The Surf Life Saving team patrolling the beach brought the youngster to the Snapper Bonanza headquarters at Waipapakauri, where he was able to meet with the ambulance. The incident showed the communications systems were working well, Kitchen said.
