SUVA, Dec, 22, 2019 (BSS/XINHUA) – The Samoan government said Sunday that
79 people have died of measles since the epidemic broke out in the South
Pacific island nation in mid-October.
Some 5,520 measles cases have been reported to the Disease Surveillance
Team since the outbreak began, with 26 recorded in the last 24 hours, the
government said in a statement on Facebook.
So far, 83 people have been hospitalized for treatment of measles in the
country.
As of Saturday, 94 percent of population have been vaccinated against
measles, the government said. The country has a population of less than
200,000.
Samoa has extended its state of emergency declared last month to Dec. 29,
placing additional restrictions on public gatherings and inter-island
travels.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted via
droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Death may occur
in up to 5-10 percent of infected young children in developing countries.