Measles Outbreak

“Everybody knew somebody who had been impacted. But even more than that it was their country this was happening to, their people,” says Ellie van Baaren of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “It’s such a small country it affected everybody.”

The outbreak infected more than 5,700 people and killed 83, most of them children under five.

Fiji has a much higher vaccination rate than Samoa, with only 15 confirmed cases in the country as of Tuesday, but health officials have warned people to avoid affected areas and cancel events likely to draw crowds.

"The gathering of youth and people for sporting events is not right and we should discourage it," said Peter Mazey, the chairman of the Fiji National Sports Commission.

"Working with the health ministry, we are going to try to stop it, now that we have 15 cases in the country."

Close to a quarter of a million people have been infected this year alone.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says this is the world's largest and fastest-moving epidemic.

Measles in DR Congo has now killed more than twice the number who have died of Ebola there in the last 15 months.

The Congolese government and the WHO launched an emergency vaccination programme in September that aimed to inoculate more than 800,000 children.

The Samoa Observer says two independent sources have confirmed that 15 children and one adult died from measles-related complications in either the intensive care unit or the emergency department of the hospital.

The figure given by the National Emergency Coordination Centre is 15 measles-related deaths.

Two of the latest deaths were prematurely born babies, one to a mother who had the clinical symptoms of measles.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga said the declaration covered the entire territory.

Lolo said effective immediately, all visitors entering American Samoa through Samoa or Tonga must provide proof of MMR immunisation, as a condition of entry.

All American Samoan residents travelling to affected countries would also be subject to Health Department screening.

The emergency declaration is valid for 30 days with the possibility of extension.

There are currently two suspected cases of measles in the territory.

The families in the Serua/Namosi subdivision, near Suva, have been isolated since the outbreak was confirmed four days ago, the Fiji Times reports.

One of them, Nancy Patricia, told the newspaper that she had been placed on medication and told not to leave her house since she was discharged from hospital.

Authorities are conducting a vaccination drive in the surrounding area, and are urging any travellers to get immunised before they leave the country.

The government said there had been no new cases since three instances of measles were confirmed last week.

In a statement released today, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services  declared an outbreak of measles for the Serua/Namosi Subdivision.

There have been two confirmed cases and two suspected cases reported from Wailali Settlement in Wainadoi about 25km out of Suva.

Three of the cases have recovered or are recovering at home, and one is currently admitted in hospital.

The Fiji side which was taking part in the Oceania Championships in New Caledonia was informed that there are fears the players and officials may have come into contact with people who may be infected with measles.

The team has been told that it may take two weeks for the side to get full clearance to jet back.

Ministry of Health is concerned that the team may have come into contact with Tongan players as the side was not vaccinated prior to departure.

We are trying to get more details from the Health Ministry on the matter.

The associate health minister, Julie Anne Genter, said New Zealand has offered advice and assistance and stands ready to help in any way.

"I understand Samoa is working through its response and authorities have requested that any support from New Zealand, waits until Samoa's needs are more clear," Ms Genter said.

Epidemics were declared in Samoa and Tonga this week, and both were spread from New Zealand, where an outbreak in Auckland has affected nearly 2000 people.

A sick traveller from Auckland carried the disease to Samoa, where seven measles cases have been confirmed.

There are also 169 suspected cases in Samoa, including one that lead to the death of an infant.

And in Tonga, a measles outbreak was declared yesterday after members of a school rugby team contracted the virus on a trip to New Zealand.

Sixty-eight cases have been confirmed in Tonga.

New Zealand has to help its Pacific neighbours tackle the disease, the MP Shane Reti said.