Measles Outbreak

Fiji has a much higher vaccination rate than Samoa, with only 15 confirmed cases in the country as of Tuesday, but health officials have warned people to avoid affected areas and cancel events likely to draw crowds.

"The gathering of youth and people for sporting events is not right and we should discourage it," said Peter Mazey, the chairman of the Fiji National Sports Commission.

"Working with the health ministry, we are going to try to stop it, now that we have 15 cases in the country."

Close to a quarter of a million people have been infected this year alone.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says this is the world's largest and fastest-moving epidemic.

Measles in DR Congo has now killed more than twice the number who have died of Ebola there in the last 15 months.

The Congolese government and the WHO launched an emergency vaccination programme in September that aimed to inoculate more than 800,000 children.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga said the declaration covered the entire territory.

Lolo said effective immediately, all visitors entering American Samoa through Samoa or Tonga must provide proof of MMR immunisation, as a condition of entry.

All American Samoan residents travelling to affected countries would also be subject to Health Department screening.

The emergency declaration is valid for 30 days with the possibility of extension.

There are currently two suspected cases of measles in the territory.

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.

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.

The Fiji side which was taking part in the Oceania Championships in New Caledonia was informed that there are fears the players and officials may have come into contact with people who may be infected with measles.

The team has been told that it may take two weeks for the side to get full clearance to jet back.

Ministry of Health is concerned that the team may have come into contact with Tongan players as the side was not vaccinated prior to departure.

We are trying to get more details from the Health Ministry on the matter.

Tonga's chief medical officer of Public Health said Wednesday's declaration was made after laboratory tests found 68 measles cases in Tonga.

Dr Reynold Ofanoa said contact tracing and history taking from measles patients revealed the virus was spread from New Zealand.

"Majority of the cases that we had initially were members of a national rugby team," Dr Ofanoa said.

"Players visited New Zealand from our schools to play some games during the month of September, and then the first case contracted the disease while in New Zealand."

Measles is a highly infectious disease and the public is urged to be vigilant for signs and symptoms and to get immunized, especially if they are traveling overseas.

The high school rugby group were playing rugby in New Zealand in September. There were 60 boys and eight officials in the group.

One of the boys became unwell, while in New Zealand and was laboratory confirmed as having measles. 

Since their return to Tonga on 1 October, 13 other members of the group developed symptoms of measles. Six of those cases had been confirmed by a laboratory test. 

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said a young woman who went to the memorial at the Free Wesleyan Church in Favona on 15 September has since been diagnosed with measles.

A doctor with the service, William Rainger, said people who went to the memorial should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly infectious disease from today.

Dr Rainger said these include a high fever, runny nose, a cough and sore red eyes. A few days later a rash starts on the face and neck, and then spreads to the rest of the body.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said a young woman who went to the memorial at the Free Wesleyan Church in Favona on 15 September has since been diagnosed with measles.

A doctor with the service, William Rainger, said people who went to the memorial should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly infectious disease from today.

Dr Rainger said these include a high fever, runny nose, a cough and sore red eyes. A few days later a rash starts on the face and neck, and then spreads to the rest of the body.