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SAMOA-HEALTH-EPIDEMIC-MEASLES
Samoa’s measles death toll rises to 20
WELLINGTON, Nov 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The death toll from a measles
epidemic in Samoa has risen to 20 as the outbreak rages out of control, with
hundreds of new cases emerging daily, official data released Friday showed.
The government said there were 1,644 cases, with 202 diagnosed since
Thursday, most affecting young children.
It said the number of deaths had hit 20, including 19 children aged under
four years old.
An additional 11 children are critically ill in hospital.
Samoa has declared a state of emergency as it tries to contain the
outbreak, launching a compulsory vaccination programme, closing schools and
banning children from public gatherings.
Australia and New Zealand have sent medical specialists and supplies, while
the UN children’s agency UNICEF is distributing more than 110,000 doses of
measles vaccine to Samoa’s population of about 200,000.
Tonga and Fiji have also experienced outbreaks, although much less severe
and without any deaths so far due to higher vaccination rates among the
population.
UNICEF estimates Samoa’s vaccination rate is 28-40 percent, while in Tonga
and Fiji they are 99 percent and 81 percent respectively.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1350HRS