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      Home / Travel alerts / Measles Outbreak

      Important Information Regarding the outbreak of Measles in New Zealand

      Issued: 6th of September 2019

      Background

      New Zealand is currently experiencing the worst outbreak of measles for 2 decades and this has the potential to affect travellers international travel plans.

      The United States, UK and Australia are warning their citizens travelling to New Zealand about the measles outbreak here.

      The US Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand issued a message alerting travellers of the disease, particularly in the Auckland region. It pointed to advice from the New Zealand Ministry of Health that people planning to travel to Auckland should make sure every family member had been vaccinated against measles, and highlighting that the vaccine takes two weeks to become effective.

      The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was also advising that travellers to New Zealand protect themselves by making sure they were vaccinated against measles with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

      If you have been directly affected and need medical assistance, please call our 24 hour emergency assistance team immediately on +61 2 8907 5240. We further urge you to pay close attention to the local media and emergency services, including the MFAT safe traveller website.

      Policy coverage:

      The following sections (if applicable in the policy wording you have purchased) have an exclusion relating to the outbreak of an infectious disease

      • Additional Expenses
      • Amendment or Cancellation Costs
      • Travel Delay
      • Missed Connection
      • Missed Port
      • Missed Shore Excursions

      The exclusion that applies to these sections is:

      claims under Section (relevant section) caused by or arising from an Epidemic, Pandemic or outbreak of an infectious disease or any derivative or mutation of such viruses, or the threat or perceived threat of any of these.

      If your claim relates to another section of the policy then the above exclusion does not apply.

      Claims can be submitted through our online claims portal.

      Important general advice

      This information must be read in conjunction with the Policy Wording as certain terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. These terms, condition, limits and exclusions are detailed in the Policy Wording and in particular we draw your attention to ‘The Benefits’ and ‘General Exclusions’ section of the Policy Wording.

      Contact us

      If you are travelling and require travel or medical assistance, please contact our 24 hour emergency assistance team on +61 2 8907 5240.

      For any general enquiries regarding the event please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 500 225 between 8:30am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday and between 10am and 2pm Saturday.

       

      Visit our blog to find out information about how to avoid measles when travelling.