Measles infects high school students.

Nearly 40 people in Auckland have recently been diagnosed with the infectious measles disease.
Westlake Boys High School on Aucklands North Shore is one of the hardest hit communities with 20 ill students.
Several other Westlake Boys High pupils who have not been immunised against measles have been asked to stay away for the next two weeks.
Measles is a very serious disease that is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The symptoms include fever, a cough, sore eyes and a rash. There is no treatment, and complications can be severe.
The Auckland Health Service has estimated that around 750 people are at immediate risk of catching the highly contagious disease.
Dr. Julia Peters said the Health Service had been working with the North Shore school for just over a week when the first case of measles was found there.
"This is definitely more than what we'd normally see. We're working hard to contain the measles within the Auckland region."
Dr. Peters said many people who had come down with the disease had recently been overseas and, in particular, in the Philippines.
The public health service has sent information to parents and students at Westlake Boys High and asked that those students who are not sure whether they have been immunised against measles to stay away.
"What we're trying to do is isolate those students as well as those who have measles, because students who are not immunised can get sick," she said.
Another seven cases of measles in Auckland are being investigated - three of them from the same school.

What to watch for Symptoms
* High fever.
* Runny nose, cough, red eyes.
* Small white spots inside mouth.
* Red, blotchy rash on face and neck and later over entire body.

WALT: Analysing an article
Task: Answer questions based on a Newspaper Article.

Success Criteria:
Show critical thinking in your answers.
Answer questions in full sentences.
Use correct spelling and punctuation.


1) How do people contract measles? I think people contract measles because it is contagious and they can get it off other people when they sneeze or cough.

2) Why do you think so many students at Westlake High School have contracted measles? The boys at Westlake High School probably caught it off other people around them, at home and at shops, when they walk past them or touch them. Possibly they could not have been immunised.

3) What is the Auckland Health Services main role in this measles outbreak? The Auckland Health Services have been working to contain the measles because if they don't everyone who haven't been immunised could catch it.

4) In the article Dr. Peters said “many people who had come down with the disease had recently been overseas and, in particular, in the Philippines.” Why do you think this is? The citizens might think that the Philippines is safe because it is overseas but the Philippines is not safe because they don't have any injections to cure the measles.

5) In your opinion what would be the best way to avoid getting measles?
To avoid getting the measles you should get immunised and always wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough and always use a tissue. Also, if you had a friend who had them stay away from them but explain why.

 Use the following criteria to assess yourself and your peer
Show critical thinking in your answers.
Answer questions in full sentences.
Use correct spelling and punctuation.

Self Assessment:
I think I did well but I could do better in putting more detail.

Yellow target.


Peer Assessment:
I think that you did well and that you added lots of detail into your answers and had full senteces.

Green target