Samoa declares state of emergency as measles spreads across Pacific: Reports

The government of Samoa has declared a state of emergency ordering all schools including the National University of Samoa to be closed as a deadly measles outbreak continues to spread. The officials have also announced not to do any public gatherings after several deaths linked to measles have been reported that have been rapidly spreading across the Pacific Islands. The island state declared a measles epidemic late in October after seven suspected measles-related deaths have been recorded. According to the Health Ministry, at least six deaths mostly infants under the age of two have been linked to the outbreak. The majority of cases have involved children younger than four years old.

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Government urges children not to gather any public gatherings

The Samoan government requested children under the age of 17 not to attend any public gatherings in a bid to stop the virus spreading. The government also made vaccinations a mandatory legal requirement for the citizens of Samoa who had not yet received any vaccinations. According to the health ministry, about two-thirds of the population has been immunized. Of the 716 suspected cases of measles, 40% required hospitalization, as per the reports. Samoa's Director General of Health Leausa Take Naseri has said they are anticipating the worst to come in the coming days. He further added that the children who died recently had not been vaccinated. It is believed that the epidemic started in New Zealand before spreading to Samoa. Winston Peters, the foreign minister of New Zealand has announced on November 15 that his country would send 3000 vaccines and 12 nurses to Samoa to help with the outbreak.

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Everybody should work together to stop spread the disease: Winston Peters

He said that measles is a highly contagious disease and has taken many lives in Samoa. He added that everybody should work together to stop its spread. American Samoa announced a public health emergency over a measles outbreak on Thursday. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, the governor said that people travelling from Tonga and Samoa to the US territory must provide proof of measles immunization to get entry into the territory. The visitor who fails to provide proof of measles immunization will be denied entry to American Samoa. According to the ministry of health, the outbreak of measles in the country occurred after the return of a squad of Tongan rugby players from New Zealand. Since then, 251 cases of confirmed or suspected measles have been identified, according to the ministry.

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