Two doses of the MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella, are free for anyone in New Zealand under the age of 18 or anyone eligible for free healthcare. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The health agency is warning New Zealanders to make sure they are fully immunised against measles if they plan to travel overseas.
Te Whatu Ora said 15 people travelling to New Zealand two weeks ago had been exposed to a measles case in Australia.
Fourteen were immune and one has been quarantined.
Clinical lead Dr William Rainger said the incident should be taken as a "wake up call".
Measles was highly infectious and cases had been recently reported in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and across Asia and the Middle East, Dr Rainger said.
"This is a strong reminder that if people want to avoid the risk of becoming seriously ill while travelling, or while enjoying their overseas holiday, they need to make sure they are fully immunised with two doses of a measles vaccine before they go," he said in a statement.
"Being immunised also protects those around you from becoming seriously ill and from spreading the disease to others."
The World Health Organisation has also said there was an "alarming" nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella, are free for anyone in New Zealand under the age of 18 or anyone eligible for free healthcare.
But for those who could not remember if they were vaccinated, there was no harm in getting an extra dose, Dr Rainger said.
"Last year, New Zealand had 13 measles cases, many connected to unimmunised people travelling to and from countries where there are cases," he said.
"This is why getting immunised against measles is so important, especially before travelling to and from overseas where measles cases are occurring."
Early symptoms of measles included a fever, a cough, a runny nose or sore and watery eyes.
Rainger said it could take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear.
