The number of people contracting measles has started to decline with fewer new cases being reported.

The Ministry of Health said 14 new measles cases were reported this past week, with 10 from Tongatapu and 4 from Vava‘u.

This is much less than the 37 new measles cases reported two weeks ago and 46 the week prior.

The Ministry’s situation report [2] stated that as of 15 December 2019, there were 564 confirmed or suspected cases of measles identified in Tonga since the start of the outbreak in October.

However, given that the duration of illness is typically less than 2 weeks, it is estimated that at least 94% of the 564 reported measles cases will have already recovered from their illnesses.

Cases have been reported to be mild with 12 hospitalizations and no deaths.

The majority 505 (90%) cases in total have occurred on Tongatapu with most cases managed in home isolation.

A total of 87 cases have occurred in children aged less than 5 years, while cases among adolescents and young people continue to form the majority of the cases in this outbreak, with 445 (79%) cases occurring in people aged 10 to 24 years.

Vaccination efforts

The Ministry of Health are continuing to target groups who are at the greatest risk of measles infection, as well as those at greatest risk of severe illness.

The groups include extended family contacts of suspected and confirmed cases; adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 years who were not picked up in the school program; and travellers aged 6 months to 24 years without documented evidence of 2 doses of measles containing vaccine.

A total of 18,431 vaccinations have been administered as of 13 December, including 10,890 on Tongatapu, 3,782 on Vava’u, 1,500 on Ha’apai, 1,561 on ‘Eua, 453 on Niuatoputapu, and 245 on Niuafo’ou.

Ongoing activities

Apart from ongoing vaccination efforts, there are a range of other activities underway to assist the containment of the measles outbreak.

This includes the arrival of additional stocks of personal protective equipment including masks and hand gel from WHO in coming weeks; enhanced surveillance activities; and complete verification of measles immunisation records for cases, among others.

The Ministry of Health is also working with representatives of churches, village and town officers, and other organisations to postpone mass gatherings wherever possible.

As government officially closes for the year starting on 20 December, arrangements have been made for adequate cover for public health and clinical services over the Christmas break.