Samoa shuts down government to fight deadly measles outbreak

SAMOA has ordered a complete government shutdown to redeploy public workers in the fight against measles, in the most dramatic response yet to a wave of outbreaks that have swept much of the world in 2019.

With 53 dead, and nearly 4,000 reported cases, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, prime minister of the tiny South Pacific nation, yesterday issued an emotional statement urging parents to bring children with signs of illness to hospital, and asking all 200,000 citizens to come forward for protection.

“Seek medical care for sick children early, ensure family members, especially children, are vaccinated and maintain good hygiene standards,” he urged.

Public health agencies have been stunned by the scale and speed of the Samoan outbreak, as measles – once headed for global eradication – has swept through the island 3,600 miles west of Australia.

The outbreak has been blamed on plummeting vaccination rates on the island, sparked by the death of two children after they received a measles jab that had been incorrectly administered. In 2015, more than 80 per cent of children had been vaccinated, compared with just 34 per cent last year.

With the World Health Organisation coordinating an unprecedented emergency response to the outbreak, equipment and staff, especially from Australia and New Zealand, have been airlifted to the islands. A British team flew in at the weekend.

“I would again call on everyone’s cooperation to protect our children. Vaccination is the only cure ... no traditional healers or kangen (alkaline) water preparations can cure measles,” said Mr Malielegaoi in a national address.

“Let us not be distracted by the promise of alternative cures.”

The Samoan measles outbreak started in October and a state of emergency was declared in mid-november, with schools closed and children banned from public gatherings, such as church services, to minimise the risk of contagion.

Nearly 200 children have been admitted to hospital and at least 21 are in intensive care with complications including pneumonia.

Infants and young children are most vulnerable. Of the 53 fatalities reported to date, 48 were aged four or less.