If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What happened on 11 May?
- What are the symptoms of measles?
- How contagious is measles? What details does the speaker give about this?
- Who is particularly at risk from measles?
- What is currently being done to try to prevent a measles outbreak?
- What provides the best protection from measles?
- How do immunity rates in New Zealand compare to World Health Organisation advice?
- Who can get a free MMR vaccine?
- What should you do if you think you might have measles?
Text
On 11 May Health New Zealand confirmed that a case of measles was identified in Auckland, and people are being urged to watch for symptoms and to check their vaccinations.
Measles is a very serious illness which causes fever, coughing, a runny nose, and sore red eyes. Sometimes people also get a rash, which usually starts on the face and head and then spreads down the body. It can lead to complications, such as pneumonia, and can be fatal, particularly for young children. Measles is also one of the most contagious diseases. That means that if you have not had it before or have not had a vaccination and you are in the same place as someone with measles, you can catch it very easily. The virus can live in the air for a long time after the infectious person has left that place. According to health experts, an infected person can infect as many as 12 to 18 other people on average. In contrast, a person with Covid may infect two to three others and someone with the flu may infect one to two others.
The person in Auckland who has measles caught the illness while in Asia, but when they flew back to New Zealand, they were not infectious so other passengers on the plane are not at risk. However, the person works on ferries in Auckland and also went to a supermarket and a carpark, so people who were in those places may have been exposed to measles. Over the past week, hundreds of close contacts of this person were contacted and 78 of those people are now in quarantine, in an attempt to stop the disease spreading.
People who were born in New Zealand before 1969 are considered immune, as many had measles then. For others, health officials advise that the best protection from measles is to have two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations. This is especially important for young children. Vaccination rates in New Zealand have fallen in recent years, so only about 80 percent of New Zealanders are immune, whereas the World Health Organisation says that 95 percent need to be immunised to prevent an outbreak. Only about 76 percent of all two-year-olds here are fully vaccinated, and the rates for Pacific and Māori children aged two are even lower, at 70.4 percent and 63.3 percent respectively. Consequently, health officials are now recommending that everyone checks if they have had these vaccinations and if not, to get immunised as soon as possible. The MMR vaccine is free for everyone in New Zealand under the age of 18, no matter their immigration status, and free for those 18 and over if they’re eligible for funded healthcare here.
If you think you have measles, you should not go to your doctor or hospital because of the risk of passing the illness to others. You should instead stay home and phone your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Vocabulary
symptom – a change in your body or mind which shows that you have an illness
rash – a lot of red spots on someone’s skin, caused by an illness
pneumonia – a serious illness in the lungs that makes breathing difficult
fatal – resulting in someone’s death
contagious – if a disease is contagious, it is spread by close contact between people
virus – a very small living thing which causes illnesses
infectious – (adjective) if an illness is infectious, it can be passed from one person to another easily, especially through the air
infect – (verb) to give someone a disease
ferry – a boat that carries people or goods across a river or a narrow area of water
quarantine – a period of time that someone is kept away from others, in case they have an infectious illness
immune – if someone is immune to a disease, they cannot catch it
mumps – a disease, often in childhood, that causes painful swelling at the side of the face and under the ears
rubella – also called German measles; a disease that causes a sore throat and a rash.
eligible – if you are eligible for something, you are able or allowed to do it
Answers
a. What happened on 11 May?
Health New Zealand confirmed that a case of measles was identified in Auckland. People are being urged to watch for symptoms and to check their vaccinations.
b. What are the symptoms of measles?
Fever, coughing, a runny nose, and sore red eyes. Sometimes a rash, which usually starts on the face and head and then spreads down the body.
c. How contagious is measles? What details does the speaker give about this?
It is one of the most contagious diseases. If you haven’t had measles or haven’t had a vaccination, you can catch it very easily. The virus can live in the air for a long time after the infectious person has left that place. An infected person can infect up to 12 to 18 other people on average.
d. Who is particularly at risk from measles?
Young children
e. What is currently being done to try to prevent a measles outbreak?
Hundreds of close contacts of the infected person were contacted and 78 of those people are now in quarantine.
f. What provides the best protection from measles?
To have two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations
g. How do immunity rates in New Zealand compare to World Health Organisation advice?
About 80% of New Zealanders are immune. The WHO says that 95% need to be immunised to prevent an outbreak.
h. Who can get a free MMR vaccine?
Everyone in New Zealand under the age of 18, and for people 18 and over if they’re eligible for funded healthcare here.
i. What should you do if you think you might have measles?
You should not go to your doctor or hospital. Stay home and phone your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116.