55 measles deaths in Samoa, Government to shut down [1]
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 - 19:28
Samoa is experiencing the deadliest epidemic to hit the South Pacific in the 21st century. The nation’s Government today confirmed 55 measles related deaths with at least 48 of the victims being children under the age of four. A total of 3,881 measles cases have been recorded by Samoa’s Ministry of Health since the outbreak began in October.In Tonga, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 394 measles cases with no fatalities.
A two day Government shutdown has been ordered by Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi with all public and Government services in the country to close between 5 – 6 December so that civil servants can assist in a mass vaccination campaign.
Medical aid has poured into the country with 50,000 vaccines delivered last Thursday along with medical teams arriving from Australia, New Zealand, NZ Red Cross, France, United Kingdom. Pacific Medical Association, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, China, Norway, Japan, United Nations and the United States.
A ‘Mass Vaccination Campaign’ implemented since 20 November, has successfully vaccinated 58,150 individuals. However, immunity can take as long as 14 days to take effect, meaning that the vaccinated are still in danger of catching the disease.
The death toll is expected to rise according to projections by Samoa’s Ministry of Health along New Zealand health experts. According media reports, New Zealand researchers at the University of Auckland predict that the epidemic’s death toll will peak at 70.