Suspected measles cases rise to 49 in American Samoa
The MMR vaccine, which is used to immunise children against measles, mumps and rubella. Photo: Tom Lee / Stuff
American Samoa has reported a second case of measles in a four-year-old boy, and 49 probable cases in children aged from two months to 13 years old. The boy attends the same school as the first confirmed case, an eight-year-old girl. The department of health epidemiologist, Scott Anesi, said the latest confirmed case was linked to the original case and would be classified as community transmission. Anesi warned of “sporadic clusters” in highly populated areas and among the unvaccinated. American Samoa is in a state of emergency, with all schools closed until May 24. Samoa has extended school holidays by a week to reduce the risk of measles spreading, though the country is currently free of probable cases. Samoa’s director general of health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, said measles would arrive in Samoa eventually but was hoping to delay its spread while the vaccination rate is raised. In 2019, Samoa experienced a measles epidemic, resulting in 83 deaths.