Measles in Samoa: What You Need to Know

First, the Samoan Islands are an archipelago.  

Second, the Samoan Island archipelago include two different political entities, Samoa, a sovereign nation, with historical ties to New Zealand;   and American Samoa, which is a US territory (but it controls its own immigration and border matters). 

Third, earlier this year, Samoa, the sovereign nation, had a terrible immunization tragedy, in which two children were killed by improperly-prepared measles vaccination. 

Fourth, Samoa,  the sovereign nation, has had historically low immunization rates, including the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine (MMR)

Fifth, the current terrible measles outbreak is occurring in Samoa, the sovereign nation. There have been over 700 cases in this nation of 197,000. If the same rate happened in the US, it would be about 1,171,000 cases. There have been 8 suspected deaths: a case fatality rate of 1.1%

Samoa’s Director General of Health Leausa Take Naseri says the crisis is partly his ministry’s fault with coverage rates being at a low 41 per cent and it’s taken a crisis to change that.

He says his staff are working around the clock to keep the epidemic from worsening but it’s far from over.

And a New Zealand infectious disease expert blames her country's lack of action

Dr Helen Petousis-Harris said given New Zealand's responsibility for the 1918 flu epidemic reaching Samoa and wiping out 22 per cent of the population, this country should have done more to protect Samoa from the outbreak.

"I feel deeply ashamed and incredibly angry that this has happened because it was absolutely predictable," Petousis-Harris said.

"It was inevitable that we would export this to Samoa. The situation in Samoa is well known that they have very low levels of immunity there."

Measles is the most contagious disease known to man and in an unimmunised population the infection spreads rapidly, she said.

"A single case can infect on average a further 12 to 18 others. So it virtually explodes. And the only way to prevent that is to have at least 95 per cent of your population immune to stop it from spreading."

The immunologist said successive New Zealand governments had failed their closest neighbour.

"I think ultimately we need to look to our leaders. [Not] the current leadership, or the one before... We've known about these problems for 20 years, so where are you going to place [sic] the buck?

"We've had 20 years to do something about this. This is something we could have done a lot better on."

The head of public health in Samoa, Dr Robert Thomsen, said Samoa had asked New Zealand for medical supplies and also for nurses who were competent to vaccinate, had experience caring for children and who could volunteer their time.

Joyetter Feagaimaali'i, writing in the Samoa Observer, reported

American Samoa has had two suspected measles cases imported from Samoa, but is acting to curb further importation.

But Samoans planning to travel to the territory should carry their immunisation records, as those who are unable to produce them will be turned back.

American Samoa Director of Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua, told the Samoa Observer in an interview that the reports of a border closure are not true, but Samoan citizens entering the territory now have to show their immunization records. 

Update 11/15/2019: Samoa declares state of emergency over measles epidemic as child deaths mount

There have been nine suspected deaths from the disease - most of them children - with more than 700 cases reported.

All isolation wards are full and the main hospital is at capacity. Many children are in critical condition.

The state of emergency will include a ban on any mass gatherings and an urgency will be given to vaccinating 100,000 people.

Comments

[Adelaide Dupont]

Thank you Liz for keeping up and showing up

especially when it comes to the Samoa situation.

The flag came up in my Sunday Traveller

and when I was a teenager - Samoa was one of my many Pacific interests.

TWENTY LONG YEARS!