While measles outbreaks in the Pacific are not yet under control, governments are being aggressive in their response to limit the virus's impact, UNICEF Pacific says.
Measles viruses. 3D illustration showing structure of measles virus with surface glycoprotein spikes heamagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion protein. Photo: 123RF
Samoa is still seeing increasing numbers of people becoming sick, with 213 suspected cases of measles and 15 of those have been confirmed by laboratory testing.
The majority of the new suspected cases are on Upolu island. Seven people were hospitalised from the new batch of cases.
Tonga also has a measles outbreak after a group of local high school rugby players contracted measles on a trip to Auckland, New Zealand.
The kingdom has 68 suspected measles cases - that number is yet to be officially confirmed by health authorities.
The Pacific Representative for the UN children's agency, Sheldon Yett, said the spread of measles in the region was a very dynamic situation.
"Diseases don't know borders. I think all governments have an obligation to put their resources into play here and to make sure populations do what is necessary.
"Governments have an obligation to be transparent and to be open, and to make sure that they keep the vaccinations at the very top of the public health agenda."
Mr Yett said the measles virus was highly contagious and the situation was particularly tough on countries with limited resources.
Everyone must do what they could to get vaccinated and raise herd immunity to the potentially deadly illness, he said.
UNICEF's Pacific representative, Sheldon Yett, meets school children in Kiribati (file photo). Photo: Unicef
