INDEPENDENT NEWS

Samoa measles death toll rises to 71

Published: Wed 11 Dec 2019 05:16 PM
Another person has died from measles in Samoa, taking the death toll from the outbreak to 71.
Photo: RNZ / Logan Church
Samoa's Ministry of Health said the death occured within the last 24 hours.
During that time 83 more cases of measles were recorded, taking the total number for the outbreak to 4898.
The ministry said there were currently 169 measles cases who are in-patients at health facilities, including 20 critically ill children and three pregnant women.
It said as of 10 December, about 91 percent of all eligible people in Samoa had been vaccinated against measles.
Latest update: 3,881 measles cases have been reported since the outbreak with 153 recorded in the last 24 hours. To date, 55 measles related deaths have been recorded.
VACCINATION UPDATE: Graphic uploaded below - as of 2 December 2019. pic.twitter.com/c8hi4gVBuP— Government of Samoa (@samoagovt) December 2, 2019
Apologies, but some of this page's content can only be viewed on the desktop version of the site.
Meanwhile, there are now 19 confirmed cases of measles in Fiji.
The latest case is a nine-month-old from Rewa.
The Ministry of Health said the infant was admitted to the main Suva hospital and was now in a stable condition in isolation.
The 19 cases were all from the Central Division.
Measles vaccination underway in Fiji. Photo: Facebook / Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services
Fiji has received 200,000 doses of the measles vaccine funded by the Australian government.
Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete said Australia's assistance would help Fiji to continue its mass immunisation campaign, "targeting those most at risk of measles infection".
The campaign could now be expanded to the rest of Fiji from the Central Division, where all 19 cases were located.
Australia's Acting High Commissioner to Fiji, Anna Dorney, said Australia was proud to assist the Ministry of Health.
"The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has been working tirelessly to ensure that this outbreak is contained. We are pleased to support their critical work to protect Fijians against measles."
Fiji's Government has also received assistance from the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund and the New Zealand government.
Phase one of the campaign saw close to 100,000 people vaccinated.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Next in Comment

US Lessons For New Zealand’s Health System: Profiteering, Hospital Adverse Events And Patient Outcomes
By: Ian Powell
Israel’s Argument At The Hague: We Are Incapable Of Genocide
By: Binoy Kampmark
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media