It's surprising it took so long for a prisoner in Mt Eden to get measles, the Corrections Association says.
A prisoner at Mt Eden Corrections Facility was diagnosed with the highly-contagious disease on Saturday and quarantine measures have now been implemented.
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Corrections Association president Alan Whitely told Newshub it could have happened much sooner.
"It's just something we've got to deal with, I'm quite surprised to be honest that it's taken so long to get a case given the spread of it in Auckland."
There have been 272 cases of measles in Auckland in 2019 and Auckland regional Public Health has warned it can spread quickly in close environments like prisons.
"Mount Eden is a remand prison so its got prisoners coming in and out of there on a regular basis, so not uncommon for that to happen," Whitely said.
The sick prisoner's cellmate has been quarantined and visits and programmes have been suspended for 120 prisoners. Visits from under-fives and pregnant women are suspended site-wide.
Whitley said he's hopeful people will understand the situation.
"People could get frustrated but I don't think anyone wants to pass that on to their families so I'm hoping the prisoners understand that."
Only vaccinated staff are working with the affected prisoner and his cellmate.
Newshub.
