UNICEF's Response to Pacific Measles Outbreak
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 20 November 2019
“UNICEF is supporting the Government of Samoa to respond to a measles outbreak in the country.
“The Government of Samoa officially declared a state of emergency on 15 November 2019, four weeks into the continuing measles outbreak with more than 1000 suspected cases so far. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 14 children under-five years old and one adult.
“Measles outbreaks were also declared in the Kingdom of Tonga on 24 October and in Fiji on 7 November. As of 5 November, 177 cases have been confirmed in Tonga with no deaths. In Fiji, the four confirmed and one suspected cases were contained in one specific area of Namosi and Serua Subdivision, west of the capital of Suva.
“UNICEF has deployed health and communication staff in Samoa to boost the government’s immunization campaign and delivered a total of 110,500 doses of measles containing vaccines (100,000 MR and 10,500 MMR) and 30, 000 Vitamin A tablets. In addition, 6 refrigerators and three emergency response trolleys used as immunization service stations are being shipped to Samoa.”
Copyright @ 2019, Radio New Zealand.
