Fiji

There are now 15 confirmed cases in Fiji with the latest patient a 38-year-old from Nakelo, which is 28km from the capital of Suva.

The Health Ministry's Sunil Chandra said phase one of the campaign saw close to 100,000 people vaccinated.

That included more than 20,000 people in the outbreak area of Serua/Namosi, he said.

The awards were planned for this Thursday at the Laucala Campus's Japan-Pacific ICT Lecture Theatre.

The university said the cancellation was due to advice from the Ministry of Health against against mass public gatherings.

The University of Fiji earlier postponed its graduation ceremony in Suva next month because of the measles outbreak.

The ceremony will now be held in March 2020.

Meanwhile, the ministry has now confirmed 15 cases of measles.

 ARPHS Medical Officer of Health Dr Maria Poynter says people who may have been exposed on this flight should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly infectious disease.

 The flight departed Nadi, Fiji on Air New Zealand flight NZ 53 at 2.00 pm on Friday 22 November, landing at 5.10 pm in Auckland on the same day.

Health official Sunil Chandra said the latest cases were two teenagers and a child, who was admitted to the main hospital in Suva but has since been discharged.

Meanwhile, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service said there were measles affected travellers on a flight from Nadi to Auckland last Friday.

Air New Zealand flight NZ53 departed Nadi at 2pm on Friday 22 November.

Public health officer Dr Maria Poynter said passengers may have been exposed and should watch for symptoms.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed seven cases of measles in the Serua and Namosi areas.

Patricia Nancy Raibevu, from the Wailali Wainadoi Settlement in Navua, was among those quarantined since the outbreak was declared two weeks ago.

The 20-year-old has since recovered and said while residents had heeded advice from the authorities, confusion and frustration was growing among the public.

"Most of us, we are angry because they've been asking the nurses to take the sick people away to the hospitals to be isolated so that the disease won't spread everywhere.

The latest cases include a seven-month-old, a three-month-old and a 19-year-old.

The two infants are currently in a hospital isolation ward.

The Outbreak Response Team is conducting measures such as isolation, quarantine and vaccination of contacts and at risk communities.

During the weekend, health authorities were notified of a suspected case of measles within the Tongan rugby team that had arrived to play in a regional tournament.

A largely inexperienced Fijian side produced some magical rugby with man of the match, Fijian Drua flanker John Dyer, scoring a brace of second-half tries to deny England head coach Eddie Jones - who took charge of the Barbarians for the game - a victorious homecoming.

"This is a big win for the boys after not such a good year," said Dyer, referring to Fiji's group stage exit at the World Cup.

The Fijians may largely have their careers in front of them but for two of the Barbarians side their days of glory are coming to an end.

The families in the Serua/Namosi subdivision, near Suva, have been isolated since the outbreak was confirmed four days ago, the Fiji Times reports.

One of them, Nancy Patricia, told the newspaper that she had been placed on medication and told not to leave her house since she was discharged from hospital.

Authorities are conducting a vaccination drive in the surrounding area, and are urging any travellers to get immunised before they leave the country.

The government said there had been no new cases since three instances of measles were confirmed last week.

For PNG to advance, they will need to beat the Bati by more than 20 points, but for Kumuls coach Michael Marum promotion is not their top priority.

"At the back of our minds that's what we want but we want to take out one game at a time," he said.

"It's going to be a tough one this weekend against Fiji. We have a strong side we put together for this game and the boys are looking forward to the match on Saturday."

In a statement released today, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services  declared an outbreak of measles for the Serua/Namosi Subdivision.

There have been two confirmed cases and two suspected cases reported from Wailali Settlement in Wainadoi about 25km out of Suva.

Three of the cases have recovered or are recovering at home, and one is currently admitted in hospital.