Passengers on a Samoa Airways flight from Apia to Auckland last week have been exposed to measles. [Source: stuff.co.nz]

Passengers on a flight from Samoa to Auckland are being warned to watch for signs of measles after being exposed to a person with the disease.

The flight departed Apia, Samoa on Samoa Airways flight OL731 at 9am on Monday, November 11, landing in Auckland about 12.10pm.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Maria Poynter said it could take 7-14 days before people showed symptoms of the highly infectious disease.

Passengers on a Samoa Airways flight from Apia to Auckland last week have been exposed to measles.

Passengers on a Samoa Airways flight from Apia to Auckland last week have been exposed to measles.

The news comes as Samoa battles an outbreak of measles which reports say has claimed the lives of at least 15 children.

All schools in the Pacific island nation have closed and children were banned from public gatherings after the Government declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

Earlier reports stated there had been 712 measles cases reported, with nearly 100 people still hospitalised and 15 in intensive care.

Measles is highly contagious and is spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air and a single case can infect a further 12 to 18 others on average.

This was the fifth public health warning issued this month after an infected person travelled from Samoa to Auckland.

Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced the Government was sending measles vaccines and nurses to Samoa to aid in the outbreak.

New Zealand had already responded to earlier requests from Samoa for medical supplies, including face masks, gowns, hand sanitiser and stretcher-beds, Peters said.

Pharmaceutical fridges had also been sent over to preserve the efficacy of the vaccines.

Poynter said people who were on the Apia to Auckland flight should be vigilant for symptoms, including a high fever, runny nose, cough and sore, red eyes.

Within a few days a rash starts on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body.