Samoa measles outbreak

The disease killed 140,000 people last year - mostly children - and globally cases in 2018 were up 167 per cent compared with 2016, according to new figures released by the CDC and the WHO this morning.

It comes as an epidemic in Samoa has killed 62 people; all but eight of the deaths are children under the age of four.

 A team of 55 nurses and 15 doctors will help to administer the measles vaccine and help tend to those already infected.

 The delegation is being led by Hawaii’s Lieutenant-Governor Josh Green, a doctor with a background in emergency room medicine.

 Last week the United States provided hundreds of thousands of dollars of USAID funding for immediate assistance.

 USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the World Health Organisation are helping to coordinate the international teams supporting Samoa’s measles response.

The six fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health confirms a total of 2,936 measles cases have been reported to the Disease Surveillance Team, since the outbreak started.

There were 250 recorded in the last 24 hours.

Of this, 156 are at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTMH), 2 at Poutasi District Hospital, 1 at Lalomanu District Hospital, 24 at the Leulumoega Rural District Hospital, 4 at the Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital (MTIIH), 1 at Foailalo District Hospital and 2 at Sataua District Hospital.

Of the 169 suspected measles cases 7 cases have been confirmed for Measles as of last week with 83 additional specimen results pending including the one suspected Measles related death.

Out of the 169 suspected cases 49 (30%) were admitted to TTM hospital, majority have recovered and discharge home with 7 new admission today of 2 adults and 5 children bringing the total number 11 admissions in hospital.

 No admissions have been reported from MTII Hospital in Savaii.