measles

Auckland measles cases should be a warning, expert says

University of Auckland’s Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director Dr Nikki Turner said child immunisation rates in areas like south Auckland remain in a state of crisis an outbreak could have dire consequences.

“Measles can spread like wildfire,” Turner said. “You only get immunity to it through vaccination, or if you’ve previously contracted it.”

“The problem is our childhood vaccination rates have dropped and a lot of other people didn’t receive their vaccinations when they were younger. So there are some real gaps in the community.”

American Samoa confirms a case of measles

The territory's Department of Health (DOH) said samples from the child, who was seen at a community centre with symptoms on 27 March, were sent for testing in California and returned positive.

Day cares are now closed to protect babies from being exposed to the virus, as infants under six months are not eligible for the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

RNZ Pacific reports Kanana Fou Elementary School in Tafuna, where the girl attends, has also been closed.

Measles warning for NZ flight passengers after case discovered

Health agencies are asking anyone on an international flight ETD426/EY462 from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne arriving at 6am on 28 January and who then flew on to New Zealand to please contact Healthline if they have not already been contacted by health officials.

RNZ reports a case of measles in a person who is in Australia has been linked to the flight.

The Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora and Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora say there are no reported cases of measles in New Zealand.

Fiji records Measles and Enteroviruses cases

These diseases is caused by a family of viruses called enteroviruses.

Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong says the disease can be mistaken for what many have read about monkeypox.

Thus, he said the ministry was yet to diagnose a case of monkeypox.

Fong says Fiji is in the middle of its chickenpox season, and measles cases have also been noted.

FBC reports the PS says the ministry has released a number of health advisories and guidelines to all clinicians in the public and private sectors in order to facilitate early case identification and reporting.

American Samoa won't host Polynesian Leaders Group

American Samoa was to host the inter-governmental meeting involving eight Polynesian members in April.

Originally the territory was to host the event in July 2019 but Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga asked Tuvalu, which hosted the Pacific Forum meeting, to host the PLG alongside the forum.

Lolo had said the territory would step up and host the meeting in January 2020 instead.

However, because of the Samoan measles epidemic, the governor then postponed the meeting until April.

Males dominate measles cases in Tonga

Out of the 656 confirmed and suspected cases of measles since October of last year, males recorded 452.

The latest report issued by the Ministry of Health, confirms that 78 of the cases have been laboratory confirmed.

The most recent cases were recorded in Tongatapu, where the two suspects were females aged 15 and 24 years.

The ministry further stated that from between October to Christmas of last year, there were 20 measles-related hospitalizations and all cases recovered completely and were discharged.

However, no deaths have been reported till date.

Tonga confirms 647 measles cases

Of these five were males and three females and the cases ranged between the ages of 7 months to 30 years.

As of 22 January 2020, the total number of confirmed or suspected measles cases is 647.

About 88 per cent of the cases were registered in Tongatapu while the rest were in Vava’u.

According to the Ministry, cases have mostly presented with mild symptoms.

There have been 20 hospitalisations (none since 25-December-2019), and all cases have been discharged.

No deaths have been reported till date.

Passenger with measles travelled between Auckland and Tonga

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service is warning passengers should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly-infectious disease.

The passenger departed Auckland for Nuku'alofa at 8.30am on Monday, returning at 12.30pm on Wednesday.

Medical Officer of Health Maria Poynter said passengers who were unsure about their immunity should check with their doctor or call Healthline for advice.

She says passengers not immunised, pregnant, living with a weakened immune system or under 12 months old should see their doctor urgently.

Effective outbreak response reduces the risk of measles spread in the Pacific

For Samoa, the country experienced a widescale measles outbreak which had significant impact upon the country’s population and health system.

The disease has cost lives, with infants and young children being most affected.

In response to the identification of measles in the region, many Pacific countries and areas have made serious efforts to close immunity gaps in their population and strengthen infectious disease prevention, surveillance and response systems.

Another measles case confirmed in American Samoa

The government said the latest case was a 28-year-old man from Fagaitua village, who has not left American Samoa in the past three months.

A woman, 27, is also thought to have measles, with samples sent to Hawaii for testing.

The territory is under an emergency declaration, with travel restrictions imposed on the territory's border, public gatherings restricted, and a mass vaccination campaign underway.

Earlier this week, the US announced it would provide $US490,000 of funding to help support the territory's efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.